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KNUT   EKWALL 


There  speeds  no  stream,  how  swift  soe'er, 
O'er  which  her  form  he  does  not  bear; 
How  sweet,  when  rushing  waters  frighten, 
Her  small  white  arms  around  him  tighten. 


(Canto  I,  v.    u,  p.  2S.) 


"3)f  yuu  prrftr  lljr  significant  anil  pr'nfnn  til, 

—  thai  iul-[irh  ministers  to  5rruu1snri.fi  ani» 
rmttrtnplatian;  u  mm  firltuhl  in  thr  gigantic 
but  pair  furnta  that  float  upon  tlir  mint  auo 
iiarkly  iul)iaprr  of  tljr  uunlii  of  opinio  and 
of  tljr  itauUu  nf  all  tbutys  oaur  tntr  Jjmun-: 

—  tljrit  must  31  rrfrr  uun  to  tlir  linaru,  S'aga- 
sinrru  Knrtlj.  wljrrr  Ucda  rfyanlrb  'Ije  kr«- 
nutc  nf  rrratimt,  mljilot  tljr  moan  dinar  upon 
t!ir  rlifla,  tljr  brnnk  trtllrJ*  i!a  nunurtnunua 
lay,  ani  tlir  mrtljl-btrn,  oratru  upon  tljr  ouin- 
mit  nf  a  gild?!)  birrh..  onag  a:t  rlrn.u  upon 
lljr  brirf  §>nmmrr— a  titrgr  nnrr  expiring 
Naturr." — Bishop  Tegner's  Selections. 


iffniljtof  a  B>aga 

A  Legend  of  Ancient  Norway 


^J^ii 


TRANSLATED    FROM    THE    SWEDISH    OF 

KSAIAS  TEGNER 

IN    THE    ORIGINAL    METERS 
BY 

(Element  H  &haut.  A.  ifl. 

WITH    ILLUSTRATIONS,    FOREWORD,    ANNOTATIONS,    1'HE 

TWELVE    ORIGINAL    SONGS    OF    CKISELL, 

AND    OTHER    ADDENDA 


REVISED     EDITION 
CHICAGO 
The  Engberg  Ilolmberg  Fubl.  Co.  j 

m^ l9U ^d 


T^^E 


Copyright,  1908. 
By  CLKMKXX  B.  SHAW. 


IV 


lo 

aluimuuiiniiuiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 


illll! linUIUUlliHTIIIIlMiriLli 


<fi 


nut  puts. 


I 

II 

III 

IV 

T 

VI 

VII 

VIII 

IX 

X 

XI 

XII 

XIII 

XIV 

XV 

XVI 

XVII 

XVIII 

xix  ; 

XX 

XXI 
XXII 
XXIII 
XXIV 


Dedication      - 

The  Literature  of  tin- North 

Foreword 

Frithiof  and  Ingeborg     - 

Kino-  Bele  and  Thorsten 

Frithiof's  Inheritance    - 

Frithiof's  Courtship 

King  Ring 

Frithiof  Plays  Chess 

Frithiof's  Happiness 

The  Farewell        -  - 

Lngeborg's  Lamentation 

Frithiof  on  the  Ocean 

Frithiof  with  Angantyr 

The  Return  - 

Balder's  Pyre 

Frithiof  Goes  into  Exile 

The  Viking  Code 

Frithiof  and  Bjorn 

Frithiof  Comes  to  King  Ring 

The  Ice-Ride 

Frithiof's  Temptation 

King  Ring's  Death 

Ring's  Drapa 

The  King's  Flection 

Frithiof  at  His  Father's  Grave 

The  Reconciliation 

Explanatory  Letter  of  Bishop  Tegner 

Index  to  Foot-Ni  ites 
Index  to  Illustrations 

Index  to  Sonus 


VI 
IX 
XVII 
24 
42 
56 
80 
90 

120 

146 
154 
168 

226 

302 

339 
347 


tVt  it  uirong  tljat  a  aottg 
*ljoufb  be  sung  lljrr  ao  long 
'^inrr  ttfvj  jonrnry  to  fatrrr  bominiona, 
aljrn  in  train  would  lljr  atraiu 
£>tek  Iljat  myaliral  plain, 
elfnugb.  uphornr  on  tny  suul'a  flrrtrat  pininna; 
Anb  rarlj  mraanrr  31  Bing  Hire  mnnlb  sabbrn  lljr  tljongljt. 
Iljr  offrring  31  bring  tlirr  roulb  glabbrn  lljrr  not. 

aljougg  Iljy  alrrp  br  so  brrg 
aljat  nn  mnrmnr  may  rrrrg 
QD'rr  tby  ama?  from  Il}r  SCururays  abnur  tfyrr. 
iHay  tljinr  car  yrt  not  Ijrar 
fMorr  tranarrnornlly  rlrar 
•lHorba  lmuntrrb  nf  thr  rartlj-friruba  tfyat  lour  lhrr? 
iEay  a  though,!  n'rr  tliy  pilloiu  tint  umkrit  a  gleam, 
Nor  by  fir  nor  by  uiillom  br  aljakrn  tliy  brram. 


Hljrn  31  romr  to  tljy  Ijoinr 
•Nralb.  tlje  rurryrrrn  bump 
rartj  aummrr,  anb  list  for  sumr  tokrn. 
No  rrgly  souubrth.  niglj 
j*aur  tlje  fir-trees'  loiu  siglj 
3ln  lljr  ailrnrr  tljat  rise  ia  unbrukrn; 
$rt  afar  Itjnu  boat  unite  rar  tby  numbrra  in  alrry, 
Anb  tljry  brrgrat  rrjotrr  mr  ntfyru  alumbrra  arr  brrg. 


3lf  31  atray  far  amay 
Anb  in  straugr  lanba  brlay, 
UJljrrr  nem  Btara  in  tljr  firmamr-nt  wanbr-r. 
Not  lraa  nrar  to  mine  tar 
lBrratljra  tgg  agirtt-unirr  rlrar 
3ln  lljr  nigljt  gnura  alonr  aa  31  punbrr; 
3lf  iuitl|  strains  softly  blrubrb  31  sgrak  lljrr  arigljt. 
IHanlbat  n'rr  atar-firlba  tranarrnbrb  not  srrk  mr  tu-uigljt  • 
vi 


3lf  tl}rrr  glrant  tit  mu  bream 
£»omr  unusual  brant  — 
cranairnt  ray  from  tljr  rayturr  auurruai  — 
alirtt  31  knotti  tljat  its  glum, 
ittkr  lt|p  trrntttlmta  bum. 
Eutks  our  ntgljt  wtttf  tlnj  morning  rlrrual:— 
$rraagtng  our  aabttraa  to-morrow  la  n'rr. 
AnJ  rljarmtng  to  glabnraa  our  sorrow  onrr  uiorr. 

Were  a  tluuiglft  hUljrr  brought 
flJitlf  tl?r  yttrtty  frattgljt 
(Of  tljr  anoui-flakra  by  Allfathre  ahakrn 
Softly  oouin  from  ljraurn'a  rruum. 
ICtghttng  mranums  rlar  bromn — 
ao  ita  yowrr  tljou  otoat  Ijrrr  rurr  makrn; 
(laulb  tlir  £nttg-gub  my  mrasure  ljia  brauty  but  Irub, 
iflttat  llyj  auul  not  in  ylraaurr  anb  buty  attrnii? 

jFnr  to  thutr,  morr  tb.au  mitt*, 
5Jum  ta  gturn  a  aign 
(0f  tljt  aubetattrr  naugljt  rurr  ab.aU  baniah: 
Anb  31  knotu  31  muat  go 
Jfrom  tl]r  rlnub-realm  brlom 
So  tlyj  ligyt,  rrr  iyr  ababnws  mill  uantali: 
Anb  mr  rarh.  through.  tt?r  portal  Eluatan  muat  aoar. 
Err  tip  Ijraling  immortal  our  utaiun  reaturr. 

Not  in  uain  mrrr-  my  atraitt 
3lf  ti?y  realm  it  roulo  gain, 
Syuu  trur  iBarb  wljuar  omit  aonga  grom  no  iiimmrr 
Shan  tljr  ray  on  ita  may 
ireom  a  amt  in  brray. 
Bratinrb  urt  through,  tljr  agrs  to  sljimmrr; 
Attb  tljr  yrara  wr  are  yartrb  mill  uttrr  tyy  umrtb. 
Cong  aa  th,ougl|tB  by  thre  atartrb  atill  fluttrr  to  rarllt. 

Eurrmure  on  tljtB  aljore 
Ert  mr  braw.  aa  of  yore. 
iCifr  anrm  front  tljr  lour  thou  boat  rlirrialt, 
Smrh,  aa  floturra  that  arr  oura 
Bram  from  frraljrning  Bljumrra, 
£rst  tljrir  bioom  uiittf  thnr  bloBBom-bttat  urrislj; 
Anb  uiljen  nrarrr  31  mittg  mr  to  trraaurra  abour, 
Sljrn  3J  rlrarrr  mag  aing  tbre  in  mrasurrs  of  lour. 


vn 


ALLEGORICAL  FIGURE  OF  ICELAND. 


ilht  SJitfratttrt  of  tbr  Nnrtlj. 

It  is  to  be  deplored  that  Scandinavian  literature  is  so 
little  known  throughout  Southern  Europe  and  America.  All 
our  research  has  been  elsewhere  directed;  and  our  scholars,  pro- 
foundly ignorant  of  the  mythology  and  poetry  of  the  North,  be- 
Lieve  the  only  classic  literature  to  be  that  of  Greece  and  Rome. 

Yet  the  North  is  replete  with  lyric  gems  that  have  never 
been  rendered  into  other  tongues.  The  great  human  heart  has 
spoken  here.  Its  strains  are  simple,  sincere  and  mighty.  Its 
thoughts  are  fresh  as  the  native  breezes,  rugged  as  the  craggy 
mountains,  deep  as  the  waters  of  the  interjacent  fjords. 

The  Teutonic  and  Scandinavian  races  once  had  a  com- 
mon mythology,  and  claimed  Oden  as  their  father. 

Iceland  has  preserved  faithfully  these  ancient  mytholo- 
gical records,  and  embodied  them  in  the  Elder,  or  Poetic.  Ed- 
da,  compiled  by  Saenrand  the  Wise,  one  of  the  Christian  priests 
of  the  twelfth  century.  Its  thirty-nine  books,  or  cantos,  are 
made  up  of  legends,  songs,  traditions  and  philosophy,  put  in 
metric  form,  and  enunciating  truths  of  such  tremendous  magni- 
tude and  universal  application  as  to  furnish  food  for  the 
thought  of  all  generations. 

This  is  the  Solomon's  Song  of  the  North.  He  who  has 
not  pondered  over  its  precepts  has  not  mastered  the  history  of 
Philosophy. 

A  time  will  come  when  the  Edda  and  Saga  will  be  placed 
upon  their  proper  pedestals, — when  the  romantic  material  and 

ix 


poetic  imagery  of  the  Icelandic  skalds  will  be  seen  equal  to 
that  of  Homer  and  Virgil. — when  their  heroic  measures  will 
seem  as  majestic,  their  conceptions  as  lofty,  their  invention  as 
skillful  and  exhaustless. 

He  who  has  gleaned  only  in  modern  fields  these  vital 
grains  of  thought  profound,  should  have  first  found  them  here 
postured  in  all  their  pristine  vigor  and  original  garb — be- 
fore they  had  grown  savorless  and  sterile.  No  thoughts  are  so 
strong  as  these  spontaneous  primeval  ones — before  they  become 
distorted  by  the  multiplicity  of  eternally  surging  thoughts  that 
in  these  artificial  latter  years  overwhelm  the  weary  brain  and 
heart. 

The  angle  of  incidence  here  is  sharper  than  the  angle  of 
reflection.  Reflection  means  attrition.  The  sense  finally  aches 
with  kaleidescopic  scenes.  Human  emotion  is  more  acute  be- 
fore common  discipline  has  changed  its  natural  current.  The 
Norse  pictures  are  thrown  upon  a  canvas  of  purest  white. 

If  you  cannot  read  the  Elder  Edda  in  its  Ancient  Norse 
tongue,  then  read  its  translation,  and  ponder  well  and  deep  its 
'•unthoughtlike  thoughts  that  are  the  souls  of  thought.  " 

Do  not  these  voices  from  Scandinavia  speak  always 
worthily  V  Do  they  not  call  forth  what  is  noble  within  us?  Are 
not  the  truths  they  bring  us  fresh  and  sweet  as  the  dew  on  flow- 
ers? Do  they  not  breathe  a  faith  unchanging,  a  friendship  in- 
violate, a  love  sincere  and  destined  to  abide?  Are  not  all  our 
relations  to  nature,  to  our  fellowr  mortals,  to  the  Allfather. 
justly  and  faithfully  portrayed? 

Carlyle  once  said,  "The  best  literature  produces  the  im- 
pression that  it  might  have  been  written  by  one  of  our  own 
epoch:  it  is  modern,  contemporary."  And  since  the  Scandi- 
navian poetry  lies  so  close  to  the  universal  nature,  must  it  not 
be  true  poetry? 

The  Northern  philosophers  have  always  believed  in  the 
future  life.  This  belief  is  grounded  in  the  very  mythology  of 
the  North.  The  brave  warrior  who  fell  in  battle  was  taken  by 
his  spear-bearing  Valkyrie  on  a  naming  steed  straight  over  the 
celestial  bridge,  Bifrost,  the  rainbow,  and  set  down  in  Valhalla, 
the  hero's  heaven, — there  to  battle  and  feast  alternately,  and  be 
healed,  by  Andhrinmir's  food,  of  every  wound  received  in  the 
sportive  daily  contests  of  Asgard. 

But  the  coward,  who  died  the  natural  death,  having  no 
wounds  as  passports  over  this  celestial  bow,  must  go  down  to 
the  realm  of  blue-white  Hela,  goddess  of  Death,  daughter  of  Loke, 
and  the  Proserpina  of  the  nether  world.  These  conceptions  of 
the  future  life  were  primeval,  as  were  consequently  those  also 
of  reward  and  retribution,  urging   ever   to   the    right,    warning 

x 


ever  against  the  wrong.  The  hero  must  unbar  the  bridge  to 
heaven.  Heroism  must  ever  keep  its  portals  open.  Far  be- 
yond the  stars  lay  the  hero's  reward. 

And  so  this  natural  religion,  born  in  the  Mythology  of  the 
North,  became  a  part  of  the  Scandinavian  mind.  Oden,  the 
Allfather,  was  worshiped  in  Norway  for  a  thousand  years  into 
the  Christian  Era,  and  to  this  day  the  Northern  mind  retains 
the  stamp  of  this  religion.  To  its  thought,  the  ancient  Balder, 
son  of  Oden,  was  as  real  as  to  ours  the  modem  Christ,  son  of 
God. 

Balder  was  the  God  of  Light,  most  merciful  and  benig- 
nant of  all  the  gods.  He  could  forgive.  His  death  by  the  hand 
of  his  blind  brother,  Hoder,  parallels  the  crucifixion  of  our  Sav- 
ior by  his  brother  Jews. 

The  grief  of  Frigga,  his  mother,  was  like  that  of  Mary. 
So  great  was  her  love  for  Balder,  that  when  his  death  was  fore- 
shadowed, she  tirelessly  circled  the  whole  earth,  and  exacted  a 
promise  from  every  animate  and  inanimate  object,  that  it 
would  do  no  harm  to  her  son.  But  she  forgot  the  mistletoe;  and 
the  alert  Loke,  father  of  Lies,  guided  the  hand  of  Hoder  to 
cast  this  twig  at  Balder,  by  which  alone  he  was  vulernable;  and 
down  to  death  sank  the  embodiment  of  the  most  lofty  and  beau- 
tiful heathen  concept  of  a  god  in  all  the  history  of  the  world! 

All  hail  to  the  pagan  race  that  invented  a  god  meriting 
the  admiration,  ay,  the  love,  of  every  Christian  man  and 
woman ! 

The  maternal  grief  is  equaled  only  by  that  of  Nanna.  lii^ 
wife,  who  died  heart-broken  at  his  death,  and  was  buried  with 
him  on  the  funeral  pyre  ^ 

The  peace  of  the  world  dies  with  Balder,  but  he  returns 
at  Eagnarok,  the  day  of  the  destruction  of  the  world  and  the 
regeneration  of  gods  and  men. 

We  should  search  the  world's  literature  in  vain  to  find 
more  lofty  conceptions,  more  sublime  descriptions,  than  the  Ed- 
daic  account  of  this  last  day,  when  Fenris  (Time)  shall  devour 
the  sun,  Moongarm  the  moon,  and  Surtur  and  the  sons  of  Mus- 
pel  complete  the  earth's  destruction  by  fire,  and  the  Midgard 
serpent  (Ocean)  draw  it  down  to  its  watery  grave. 

But  there  is  a  judgment  day.  when  the  wicked  shall  be 
punished  in  Nastrand,  and  the  good  be  rewarded  in  Gimle,  tin- 
permanent  heaven,  of  which  Valhalla  is  but  a  prelude.  Balder 
shall  live  again,  and  over  a  human  race  restored  shall  Allfather 
reign  forever. 

The  sublimity  of  loftiest  poetry  pervades  all  these  myths, 
traditions  and  philosophy,  all  of  which  found  their  expression 
in  Poesy's  universal  form — the  alliterative— vehicle  constantly 

xi 


THE  ORCHESTRA  OF  NATURE. 


employed  in  the  Elder  Edda,  and  in  nearly  all  Icelandic 
literature. 

Mythology,  poetry  and  religion  are  thus  united  by  one 
inseparable  band. 

Now  with  this  indissoluble  union  of  mythology  and  re- 
ligion, inborn  and  universal  in  the  Northern  mind,  could  the 
poet  be  sincere  and  not  breathe  the  religions  spirit  in  his  heart- 
felt songs?  Poetry  is  not  a  fiction.  It  is  sincerity.  It  walks 
hand   in  hand  with  religion  and  mythology. 

So  Brage,  the  god  of  Poetry,  becomes  also  historian  and 
religious  teacher.  He  becomes  the  exponent  and  interpreter  of 
the  true  spirit  of  Norse  tradition  and  belief.  His  words  are  the 
loftiest,  his  teaching  the  most  impressive,  of  all  teachers',  in 
that  he  gives  forth  his  lays  in  the  voice  of  song.  He  is  the  God 
of  Song.  He  finds  his  reflection  in  the  skalds,  or  minstrels,  who 
entertained  at  the  feasts  of  warriors  with  songs  of  their  own 
composition,  called  sagas,  reciting  heroic  and  historic  tales, 
playing  their  own  accompaniments  upon  the  harp.  If  some 
Homer  had  but  collected  and  woven  together  these  sagas, 
Scandinavia  would  have  had  its  Iliad. 

There  never  lived  so  sincere  and  ardent  a  lover  of  nature 
as  the  Northern  poet. 

His  religion  has  made  him  so.  The  Northern  gods  were 
personified  natural  forces.  Their  influence  still  is  mighty.  They 
speak  across  the  ages.  To  ignore  these  forces  in  his  poem  would 
be  sacrilege.  Like  Saemund,  the  modern  Scandinavian  poet  has 
a  ''lingering  fondness  for  paganism," — for  personified  nature. 

In  every  song  he  sings,  the  great  orchestra  of  nature  must 
accompany  him.     What  is  so  barren  as  an  unaccompanied  song? 

Yes,  he  must  unite  the  substance  with  the  shadow — the 
seen  with  the  unseen.  To  him  every  natural  object  typifies  some 
psychic  emotion. 

In  no  other  literature  is  so  clearly  pictured  the  parallelism 
between  the  objective  and  the  subjective.  No  other  authors  have 
so  strikingly  unveiled  the  analogy  between  the  external  and  the 
internal.  Similes  everywhere  abound.  We  often  wonder  why 
we  had  never  discovered  these  identities  ourselves.  In  the 
Northern  poet's  similes,  both  the  letter  and  the  spirit  give  life. 
The  scene  is  without  and  within.  The  thought  ends  not  with 
the  picture.     It  dwells  in  us. 

And  so  these  sincere  poets  find  a  living  spirit  in  the 
morning  dew,  the  scent  of  flowers,  the  golden  fruit,  the  waving 
grain;  they  see  it  in  the  falling  snow-flakes,  the  white-robed 
earth j  the  mountain's  cumulated  clouds,  the  eternally  motion- 
less polar  sentinel;  in  the  gold-dust  tinging  the  Western  oak- 
tops,  in  the  golden  city  where  the  sun  and  ocean  meet,  in  the  de- 

xiii 


scending  of  earth-refreshing  Night,  in  the  crimson  Auroral 
rays,  and  in  the  rising  of  earth-awakening  Day;  they  hear  it  in 
the  harp's  soft  measures,  in  the  clear  tones  of  the  quail  and 
wood-thrush,  in  the  torrents  tearing  down  to  the  ocean,  in  the 
thundering  of  mighty  Thor:  in  the  night-winds  of  the  forest,  in 
the  rustling  of  Autumn  leaves,  in  the  refrain  of  waves  upon  the 
strand,  in  the  dirge  of  pine-trees  over  ancestral  grave-mounds, 
and  in  the  accents  of  the  human  voice  divine;  they  feel  it  clearly 
in  the  mystic  moonlight  silently  falling  upon  the  white  birches, 
in  the  ni^ht -shadows  of  the  awful  forest,  in  the  darker  depths  of 
some  midnight  fjord,  in  the  swiftness  of  the  rolling  of  the  sea- 
sons, in  the  "dead  half  year  of  the  polar  night,"  and  in  the 
blood-red  glow  of  the  midnight  sun,  when  neither  day  nor  night 
is  reigning,  but  both  united  stand  on  the  firmament,  watching 
over  the  silenced  and  slumbering  world. 

In  the  contemplation  of  Nature,  they  look  through  and 
beyond. 

They  penetrate  the  clouds  and  reach  the  sun.  Beyond 
the  earthly  shadows  they  see  the  celestial  light. 

So  the  poetry  of  the  North  is  pure  in  its  thought,  inspir- 
ing in  its  hope,  beautiful  and  all-sustaining  in  its  faith. 

The  foreign-born  Scandinavian  should  study  the  language 
of  his  forefathers,  and  discover  the  hidden  treasures  it  contains. 

The  work  of  bringing  to  light  and  endeavoring  to  reproduce 
in  our  own  tongue  ere  long  some  of  the  lyrical  gems  of  Sweden, 
is  an  object  to  which  the  author  sincerelv  aspires. 

Chicago,  Feb.  12,  1908. 


THE  ASH  TREE  YGGDRASIL. 


This  illustration  of  the  great  Mundane  tree,  originally  copied  from  the  Eddalaeren 
of  Finn  Magnuson,  pictures  the  earth  (Midgard)  as  a  disc  floating  in  the  ocean,  and  com- 
pletely encircled  by  Jormungand,  the  great  Midgard  serpent. 

The  circumjacent  shores  are  the  craggy  mountains  at  Jotunheim,  or  Utgard,  "the 
outermost  parts  of  the  earth." 

Of  the  three  stems  of  the  tree,  the  main  (infernal)  springs  from  Nifelhem,  the  abode 
of  Hela,  and  the  realm  of  the  dead;  another  (the  terrestrial)  issues  from  Mimer's  Well  in 
the  North;  the  third  (supernal)  from  the  Urdar  fountain  in  the  South. 

The  main  stem  penetrates  the  earth  and  its  central  Olympian  mountain,  Asgard, 
home  of  the  Asir  (the  gods),  which  latter  is  again  connected  by  Bifrost,  the  rainbow,  with 
the  earth  at  its  Southern  boundary,  and  with  the  fount  of  Urda. 

The  branches  of  these  three  stems,  uniting  above,  overshadow  the  whole  earth. 
Nidhogg,  the  dragon  of  the  nether  world,  with  his  countless  serpents,  eternally  gnaws 
the  root  of  Yggdrasil,  but  the  norns  continually  sprinkle  the  tree  with  living  waters,  and 
keep  it  in  everlasting  verdure. 

An  all-observing  eagle  perches  upon  its  branches. 

A  squirrel,  Ratatosk,  is  running  up  and  down  it  continually. 

Four  harts,  Dain,  Dvalin,  Duueyr  and  Durathror,  with  bent  necks  bite  its  green 
leaves. 

Yggdrasil  is  the  tree  of  existence,  and  typifies  the  life  of  man.  Its  three  roots  sym- 
bolize, Spirit,  Organization,  and  Matter. 


The  poem  of  Frithiof  's  Saga  is  the  Iliad  of 
Scandinavia,  and  its  author,  Esaias  Tegner,  is 
the  Homer.     This  greatest  epic  work  of  the 
Swedish  language  is  adapted  from  the  ancient 
Norse  legend  of  Frithiof  the  Bold  and  Fair  Ingeborg, 
and  also  from  the  Saga  of   Thorsten,   both   these 
sagas  being  ascribed  to  the  twelfth  or  thirteenth  cen- 
tury, and  their  original  authorship  unknown. 

While  Tegner's  version  preserves  the  main  fea- 
tures of  the  original,  he  has  so  clothed  it  with  mod- 
ernism, warmth  and  imagination,  so  elaborated  it  in 
its  details,  so  incarnated  its  skeleton,  so  illuminated 
its  fascinating  story  by  his  classic  and  refining  touch, 
as  to  have  caused  his  Frithiof  s  Saga  to  be  called  by 
Longfellow  '"one  of  the  most  remarkable  works  of 
modern  times."  It  is  the  glory  of  the  Scandinavian  literature 
has   been  paraphrased  into  all  modern  European  languages. 

Each  of  its  24  cantos,  or  books,  has  its  own  peculiar  form  of 
stanza,  rhyme  and  measure.-  no  two  being  alike— an  innovation 

xvii 


[1 


which  has  caused  some  critics  to  declare  the  work  lacking  in 
unity.  But  each  rhythmic  form  and  metric  combination  will  be 
found  to  be  happily  and  strikingly  adapted  to  the  painting  of  its 
own  scenes,  situations  and  emotions. 

Tegner  was  a  master  of  trochees,  iambuses,  spondees  and  dac- 
tyls; and  well  he  knew  the  use  of  dimeters,  tetrameters,  and  hex- 
ameters; so  that  we  not  only  understand,  but  see,  the  action  of 
his  poem.  We  hear  the  words  of  his  characters,  and  feel  their 
thoughts. 

In  adhering  to.  the  metrical  forms,  the  translator  is  thus 
far  assisted  on  his  way;  for  the  mould  is  an  indispensable  at- 
tribute of  each  of  the  24  cantos. 

A  translation  should  produce  the  effect  of  the  original. 
But  this  identity  of  emotional  effect  is  by  no  means  always  to  be 
secured  by  literal  rendering.  The  word-combination  might  dis- 
tort the  force  of  the  single  words;  and  the  expression  might  in 
one  tongue  be  sublime,  while  in  the  other,  bombastic,  grotesque 
or  ridiculous.     The  idioms  often  preclude  verbatim  treatment. 

Moreover,  the  translator  must  translate — must  faithfully 
reproduce  the  matter  of  the  original, — no  more,  no  less.  He 
must  not  misquote.  He  must  not  create,  he  must  not  omit.  He 
must  not  make  a  new  poem.  He  must  not  destroy  the  old.  He 
must  maintain  the  emphasis  upon  the  emphatic  point.  If  the 
only  word  required  to  complete  an  otherwise  most  satisfactory 
and  forcible  translation  of  a  line  should  not  happen  to  exist  in 
the  translator's  language,  or  if  that  word  be  a  trochee  when  it 
must  be  an  iambus -then  must  be  regretfully  abandoned  wh; it 
had  seemed  a  promising  project,  and  the  fabric  must  be  en- 
tirely re-constructed  on  an  altered  plan.  One  must  not  depart 
from  his  course  for  a  rhyme  too  good  to  be  lost;  must  not  em- 
ploy '•mountains"  to  rhyme  with  "fountains,"  when  the  original 
does  nor,  allude  to  mountains. 

A  single  line  should  be  translated  by  a  single  line,  and  the 
thoughts  embodied  in  each  should  be  mutually  inclusive  and 
identical.  All  the  difficulties  to  be  encountered  are  rendered 
cumulative  by  the  necessity  of  preserving  the  meter,  the  rhyme 
(which  is  sometimes  triple),  the  stanza  form,  and  so  far  as  pos- 
sible the  punctuation  mark  at  the  end  of  each  individual  line. 
Moreover,  the  translation  must  never  suggest  itself  to  be 

xviii 


.such — must  not  sound  like  one — but  must,  in  every  phrase,  bear 
the  hall-mark  of  an  original  work,  and  the  spontaneity  of  its 
author. 

A  poem  must  be  poetically  rendered. 

When  there  exist  but  two  feet  in  a  line,  as  in  Canto  XIV, 
the  difficulty  of  uniting  all  these  imperative  conditions  in  the 
limited  space  of  four  syllables,  will  be  seen  to  be  tremendously 
enhanced.  When  several  of  these  conditions  co-exist,  and  are 
but  partially  surmountable,  on  account  of  linguistic  limitations, 
then  the  most  meritorious  rendering  is  the  one  that  surmounts 
the  greatest  number  of  the  greatest  obstacles. 

The  dactylic  tetrameter  of  Canto  XI,  the  Aristophanic  ana- 
paests of  Canto  XV,  as  well  as  the  tragic  senarius  of  Canto 
X  XIV,  were  all  introduced  into  Sweden  by  Tegner. 

One  of  the  specific  obstacles  to  the  paraphrasing  of  Swedish 
into  English  lies  in  the  trochaic  form  of  stanza,  used  in  so 
many  of  the  cantos  of  Frithiof  s  Saga,  and  preventing  the  defin- 
ite article  from  being  used  at  the  beginning  of  a  line.  In 
Swedish,  this  article  exists  as  a  substantive-termination,  not  dis- 
lodging the  ictus.  In  English,  it  is  constantly  in  the  way.  We 
must  then  ingeniously  posture  our  noun  in  some  other  portion 
of  the  line. 

The  following  couplets  from  a  well-known  English  transla- 
tion of  Canto  XXI,  every  line  of  which  must  begin  with  a 
powerful  trochaic  accent,  demonstrate  the  universal  failure  to 
reproduce  this  most  common  of  Scandinavian  meters: 

Rocks  with  the  bunleu 

The  I  arch-bended  bridge. 

The   I  asar  his  hands  glad 

Hurry  to  grasp. 

Far  on  a  foray 

Fights   |  puissant  THOE,  but 

Here  the  syllables  preceding  the  perpendicular  lines  have 
very  impertinently  and  obstreperously  assumed  their  inadmis- 
sible position,  thus  completely  destroying  the  attempted  rhythm, 
and  being  endurable  to  the  translator  himself  only  because  oJ 
his  unconsciousness  of  the  Vaulundian  lameness. 

The  claim  of  a  translator  to  have  reproduced  the  original 
trochaics,  when  a  liberal  percentage  of  iambics  is  interspersed 
throughout  the  entire  poem,  can  be   seriously  or  charitably  re- 

xix 


garded  only  by  the  hypothesis  that  the  claimant  is  sincere,  but 
unrhythmical; — as  when  one  attempting  to  sing  or  play  renders 
7  or  9  eighth  notes  to  a  quadruple  measure,  in  unconscious  pec- 
cation  against  the  metrical  sense  of  his  writhing  auditors,  and 
in  sublime  complacence  emerges  from  the  terrestrially  unpar- 
donable fiasco  with  a  skull  yet  immune  from  the  mallet  of  the 
rhythm-loving  but  merciful  and  Balder-like  Thor! 

Of  another  translators  work,  the  second  couplet  of  every 
stanza  throughout  Canto  IV  ends  with  a  masculine  (one-syllable) 
rhyme,  thus  depicting  the  original  falsely;  as, 

The  songs  are  loud-pealing  in  Frithiof's  hall, 
And  the  praise  of  his  sires  is  the  burden  of  all; 
But  (the)  |  skalds'  art  is  |  vain, 
He  heeds  not  the  music,  and  hears  not  the  !  strain. 

Here  the  article,  which  I  have  parenthesized,  and  the  suc- 
ceeding dactylic  foot,  which  should  be  trochaic,  constitute,  with 
the  one-syllabled  rhyme,  triplicate  examrjles  of  hundreds  of  the 
rhythm-annihilators  by  which  this  most  ably  annotated  work  is 
made  to  convey  an  entirely  erroneous  impression  of  the  original 
measure. 

Color-blindness,  in  its  domination  of  subjects,  must,  with 
profound  humility,  succumb  to  metric  blindness. 

A  defective  pitch  must  similarly  yield  to  a  lame  rhythmic 
perception,  strangely  unaccountable  to  one  with  true  inborn 
rhythm. 

So  far  as  I  have  extended  my  research,  no  European  Eng- 
lish paraphrase  of  Frithiof's  Saga  preserves  the  Tegnerian  meas- 
ures with  enough  fidelity  even  to  evince  literary  courtesy  to  the 
great  poet. 

Yet  each  translator  claims  to  have  done  this  very  thing. 

Two  American  translations,  however, — perhaps  the  only 
metrical  ones  that  have  appeared  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic — 
except  for  an  occasional  ictus-dislodging  introductory  syllable, 
have  shown  real  faith  to  the  Swedish  author,  and  seem  worthy 
of  very  high  indorsement.  These  are  the  works  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Holcomb,  and  of  Professor  Sherman.  No  considera- 
tion of  nationality  prompts  the  opinion  that  these  two  transla- 
tions have  not  been  equaled  in  England. 

The  meter  of  Canto  III  is  the  dactylic  hexameter,  which  is 

xx 


a;so  the  meter  of  the  Iliad,  the  iEneid,  and  of  Longfellow's 
Evangeline.  The  line  has  six  feet  of  dactyls  and  spondees  in- 
terspersed, dactyls  preponderating,  and  the  two  heavy  syllables 
of  the  spondee  occupying  the  same  time  as  the  one  heavy  and 
the  two  light  syllables  of  the  dactyl. 

Now  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  English  spondees,  Poe  de- 
clared the  dactylic  hexameter  to  be  a  metric  impossibility.  De- 
ducting for  his  malice  toward  Evangeline's  author,  there  yet 
remains  much  reason  in  his  dictum.  The  translator  must  con- 
stantly employ  these  artifices:  (1)  Using  compound  words;  as 
rune-stone,  fir-tree,  arm-ring,  Yule-tide,  coal-black;  (2)  Bring- 
ing a  pause,  written  or  caesural,  between  the  two  syllables,  thus 
protracting  a  trochee  into  a  spondee;  (3)  Using  two  separate 
words  for  the  spondaic  foot,  each  of  which  is  important,  and  will 
be  deliberately  spoken;  (4)  Employing  as  the  second  syllable  a 
word  that  is  heavy  with  consonants,  thus  retarding  the  time. 

The  final  foot  of  each  line  must,  uniformly,  be  a  spondee. 

I  here  subjoin  some  lines  selected  from  the  third  canto, 
wherein  it  is  thus  endeavored  to  employ  these  artifices  for  the 
artificial  creation  of  spondees  naturally  wanting  in  our  language, 
the  spondaic  feet  being  marked: 

Flourished  the   I  gold-hued  I  corn,  and  I  man-high  I 

wavered  the  I  rye-growth  I 
Held  for  the   I  green  woods  I   too,  where  the  |  high-horned  [ 

elks  ever  sportive 
Wandered  the   I  white-wooled  I  sheep,  like  |  cumulate 

masses  of   I  fleece-clouds  | 
Stationed  apart  was  the  I  drink-hall,  I  built  of  the 

heart  of  the  |  fir-tree  | 
Now  in  the  midst  of  the  |  straw-strown  I  floor,  and  | 

bright  on  its   |  walled  hearth  | 
Written  all  over  the  |  green-clad  |  fields,  with  | 

blossoms  for  |  rune-marks  | 

Moreover,  the  Scandinavian  is  replete  with  feminine  rhymes, 
— those  of  two  syllables  accented  on  the  first, — as  bolja,  folja, 
vingar,  bringar,  etc. 

They  are,  in  fact,  numerous  as  the  Vallambrosian  forest's 
autumnal  leaves. 

Our  dissyllabic  rhymes  are  few.  The  original  author  may 
indeed  so  mould  his  thought  and  expression  as  to  employ  almost 
any  rhyming  couplet;  but  the  translator  must   adhere  to  the 

xxi 


original;  and  hence  almost  universally  resorts  to  the  artifice  of 
the  piogressive  form  for  his  feminine  rhymes. 

Of  the  following  two  stanzas  from  Canto  XXIII,  the  superi- 
ority of  the  second  is  unquestionable: 

How  fair  the  sunshine  smiles,  how  grateful  creeping 

From  bough  to  bough  its  tender  beams  appear! 
Allfather's  glance,  in  dews  that  eve  is  weeping, 

As  in  his  world-wide  sea,  shines  pure  and  clear! 
In  crimson  deep  the  mountain  tops  are  steeping! 

"fis  blood  that  Balder's  altar  doth  besmear! 
Soon  o'er  the  land  the  night  will  be  impending, 

And  in  the  wave  the  gold-shield  be  descending. 

From  the  subjoined  stanza  (of  the  same  canto)  is  at  least 
eliminated  the  monotony  of  the  progressives: 

Is  all  unchanged?     Stand  Framuas'  halls  paternal, 

And  Balder's  fane  still  on  the  hallowed  strand? 
Ah!  Fair  the  valleys  in  life's  season  vernal. 

But  through  them  passed  the  sword  and  fiery  brand; 
Both  wrath  of  gods  and  men's  revenge  infernal 

Speak  to  the  wanderer  o'er  the  fire-charred  land. 
Devoted  pilgrim,  come  not  here  to  ponder. 

For  untamed  beasts  in  Balder's  grove  now  wander. 

To  educate  the  literary  amateur  to  regard  a  constantly  re- 
curring "nig"  termination  as  inferior  and  wearisome,  is  in  no 
way  a  difficult  process.  A  fact  worthy  of  more  than  mere  pass- 
ing allusion  is  that  of  the  extreme  paucity  of  English  rhymes 
of  any  specific  number  of  syllables  whatever;  to  be  convinced 
of  this  requires  only  that  the  doubter  open  his  dictionary  at  any 
page,  select  any  worth  and  search  for  its  rhyme  or  rhymes. 

This  fact,  and  the  necessity  of  preserving  the  simplicity  of 
the  original  diction,  combine  with  the  metrical  requirements  to 
render  of  the  utmost  difficulty  a  poetica  1  paraphrase  from  any 
language  into  another,— but  perhaps  also  to  afford  indulgence 
for  passages  of  which  the  genius  of  one  tongue  does  not  permit 
i  rendering  so  felicitous  as  the  original. 

It  is  a  mere  fortuity  when  the  fairest  vehicle  of  the  expres- 
sion of  a  thought  is  similar  in  different  languages;  and  it  is 
hoped  this  work  may  be  regarded  only  as  a  mirror,  reflecting 
to  sincere  hearts  Bishop  Tegner's  most  faithful  portrayal  <>l 
human  emotion,  in  this  greatest  of  all  bequests  to  the  skaldic 
literature  of  Scandinavia. 

xxii 


(Eattto  ifltrat. 


A  tale  of  the  long  ago. 

The  scenes  of  this  beautiful  legend  are,  in  the  main,  located 
about  the  Fjord  of  Sogne,  in  middle-western  Norway;  the  date  to 
be  assigned,  near  the  end  of  the  eighth  century. 

The  hero  of  the  tale,  Frithiof,  and  the  heroine,  Ingeborg,  who 
are  now  little  children,  have  been  placed  under  the  tutelage  and 
guardianship  of  Hilding,  an  old  and  learned  master. 

Frithiof  is  the  son  of  Thorsten,  a  wealthy  peasant;  Ingeborg, 
the  daughter  of  Bele,  king  of  Sogne-fylke.  Though  Thorsten  is 
not  of  royal  birth,  he  is  Bele's  most  affluent  subject,  his  constant 
companion,  and  trusted  friend. 

The  childhood  and  early  youth  of  Frithiof  and  Ingeborg,  whose 
mutual  affection  has  been  coeval  with  their  very  memories,  are 
here  painted  by  the  gifted  Tegner  with  simple  touches  and  won- 
derful colors. 

Where  once  a  fairy  king  and  queen  seemed  dancing,  now  stand 
two  youthful  lovers,  who  can  delineate  each  other's  attributes 
only  by  similes  drawn  from  types  the  most  beautiful  of  earth  and 
the  most  divine  of  Asgard. 

All  that  to  the  Norseman's  mind  was  heroic  in  man  or  noble 
in  woman  has  the  Swedish  author,  without  unnecessary  mod- 
ernization, embodied  in  the  personalities  of  Frithiof  and  Inge- 
borg, less  as  individuals  than  as  poetical  concepts  of  the  ancient 
hero-epoch. 

But  the  aged  Hilding  deems  this  love  unfortunate,  and  seeks 
to  dissuade  Frithiof  from    its   snares   and  dangers,— but  in  vain. 


24 


jft'xtlnaf  mxh  ^Jngthon}. 

Vi^HERE  grew  in  HildingV  garden  fair 
Two  plants  that  felt  his  fostering  care; 
No  two  so  fair  the  North  e'er  nourished 
As  those  that  in  this  garden  flourished. 


One  as  an  oak  its  head  upreared, 
And  like  a  lance  its  stalk  appeared; 
The  quivering  crown,  by  breezes  shifted, 
Like  warrior's  helm  its  circle  lifted.1. 


*The  foster-father  and  curator  of  Frithiof  and  Ingeborg.  to  whom  their  childhood's 
education  hadbeen  entrusted,  and  in  whose  house  they  dwelt,  according  to  the  educa- 
tional custom  of  the  times. 

"The  collocation  of  two  foster-children  whose  parents  seem  to  have  been  both  wid- 
owers, and  both  too  much  occupied  by  the  pursuits  of  war  to  superintend  the  education  of 
their  offspring,  is  stated  in  the  Chronicle;  but  his  beautiful  elaboration  of  the  hint  is  due 
to  the  poet  himself. 

The  custom  of  fosterage  was  not  confined  to  the  North,  and  the  cement  which  it 
must  have  formed  to  bind  the  high  and  the  humble,  is  obvious."— Strom  .. 

+  As  the  Northern  poet  is  the  poet  of  nature,  similes  drawn  from  this  source  con- 
stantly appear.  25 


:;  The  other  blossomed  as  a  rose 

When  Winter's  blast  no  longer  blows, 
And  Spring,  from  blossom  yet  unbidden, 
Asleep  within  the  bud  lies  hidden. 

4  But  tempests  o'er  the  earth  will  blow, 
Whose  ravage  wild  the  oak  must  know ; 
Spring  suns  will  burn  within  the  heaven. 
Their  warmth  to  opening  rose-buds  given. 

5  So  grew  they  up  in  playful  glee, 
And  Frithiof  was  the  young  oak  tree; 
But  in  the  verdant  vale — a  rare  one — 
The  rose  was  Ingeborg.  the  fair  one. 

G  Shouldst  thou  by  day  behold  them  roam, 

Wouldst  think  thyself  in  FreyaV   home, 
"Where  many  a  dancing  bride-pair  presses, 
With  rosy  wings  and  golden  tresses. 

7  But  shouldst  thou,  by  the  moon's  pale  ray, 

Behold  them  whirl  in  woodland  play. 
Wouldst  think,  when  neath  the  branches  glancing, 
The  elf-king*  and  his  queen  were  dancing. 

*It  is  also  written  Fridthjof  and  Frithjof,  and  signifies  the  "destroyer  of  peace." 

"Frithjof,  from  his  very  youth,  was  versed  in  all  manner  of  exploits;  hereby  got  he 
the  name  of  Frithiof  the  Bold,  and  was  so  happy  in  his  friends  that  all  men  wished 
him  well."  — Saga  ok  Frithiof  the  Bold. 

tFreya  was  the  daughter  of  Njord  and  Skade,  the  wife  of  Oder,  and  the  goddess  of 
love,— the  Venus  of  the  Scandinavian  mythology. 

*"The  Edda  mentions  another  class  of  beings  inferior  to  the  gods,  but  still  pos 
of  great  power;  these  were  called  Elves. 

The  white  spirits,  or  Elves  of  Light,  were  exceedingly  fair,  more  brilliant  than  the 
sun,  and  clad  in  garments  of  a  delicate  and  transparent  texture. 

They  loved  the  light,  were  kindly  disposed  to  mankind,  and  generally  appeared  as 
fair  and  lovely  children.  Their  country  was  called  Alfheim,  :\n(.\  was  the  domain  oi  Frey 
the  god  of  the  sun,  in  whose  light  they  were  always  sporting."— Bulfinchs  Age  of  Fable. 

"De  spinna  of  mausken  sin  hogtids  dragt. 
Med  liljehvit  spelande  hand."— Stagnelius. 
From  moonbeams  they  spin  a  bright  nuptial  attire. 
With  lily-white  frolicsome  hand. 

26 


8  It  was  so  joyous  and  so  sweet 
When  he  his  first  rune*  could  repeat; 
A  king  was  not  like  him  in  glory, 
When  Ingeborg  he  taught  the  story. 

9  With  her  how  glad  he  steered  his  bark 
Across  the  waters  blue  and  dark; 
How  joyful,  when  the  sail  he  shifted, 

She  clapped  her  small  white  hands  uplifted! 

10  So  high  its  nest  the  bird  hides  not, 
That  for  her  sake  he  has  not  sought; 

The  eagle,  poised  mid  clouds  and  thunder, 
Of  eggs  and  young  he  dares  to  plunder. 

11  There  speeds  no  stream,  how  swTift  soe'er, 
O'er  which  her  form  he  does  not  bear; 
How  sweet,  when  rushing  waters  frighten, 
Her  small  white  arms  around  him  tighten. 

*The  runes  were  the  earliest  alphabet  of  the  nations  of  Northern  Europe.  There 
were  three  systems:  The  Norse  (parent  of  all),  numbering  16  characters;  the  German.  22  ; 
and  the  Anglo-Saxon,  over  30.  These  three  systems  have  a  family  likeness  to  each  other. 
Oden  is  said  to  have  invented  the  runes,  and  introduced  them  into  Scandinavia  about  100 
years  B.  C.  As  they  were  designed  for  carving  on  wood,  and  as  horizontal  lines  (in  the 
direction  of  the  grain)  would  be  more  easily  obliterated,  and  as  curved  lines  are  also 
difficult  to  produce  on  wood,  the  runes  consist  only  of  perpendicular  and  slanting  lines,  as 
here  shown: 

THE  RUNIC  ALPHABET. 

Form.  ?.         n.       t*     *.       R       V.       %.       \. 

Name.  Frej,      Ur,   Thor,  Os,  Reder,  Kon.  Hagel,  Nodi 

Pronunced.     F,F,V.  U,V,A.  Th,D.  0.      R.      K,  G.     H.      N. 

Form.  I.       +■       H.        1\        B.  t\         Y.       A. 

Name.  Is,    Ar,     Sol,    Tyr,  Bjarkal,  Lager,  Madur,  Or. 

Pronunced.  I.E.  A,A.  S.  T,D.  P,B.  L.  M.  0,R. 
Of  the  first  six  runes,  the  term  "futhorc"  is  formed,  which  signifies  "rune."  Runic 
inscriptions,  also  called  runes,  were  often  cut  on  stones  or  bark,  and  embodied  epitaphs, 
laws,  history  and  the  laudation  of  departed  heroes.  The  runes  were  not  understood  by 
the  people,  but  only  by  the  skalds  (or  bards)  and  the  priests.  "I„iterarum  secreta  viri 
pariter  ac  foeminse  ignorant,"  wrote  Tacitus  of  the  Germans.  (Both  the  men  and  the 
women  are  ignorant  of  the  secrets  of  letters.)  The  skalds  chanted  these  runes,  which, 
like  the  Homeric  traditions,  were  committed  by  learners,  and  thus  published.  The  term 
"rune"  signifies  secret,  and  was.  in  this  sense,  applied  to  any  mysterious  writing.  May 
ical  power  was  attributed  to  the  runic  writing,  which  was  employed  for  augury,  divina- 
tion, witchcraft,  the  priests  by  their  use  playing  upon  the  superstition  and  credulity  of 
iti'  people.  The  original  language  of  the  runes  was  the  ancient  Norse,  still  used  with 
little  modification  in  Iceland,  from  which  language  the  Swedish.  Danish  and  Norwegian 
have  developed.  Rune-stones  are  grave-stones  which  aTe  carved  with  runes,  and  erected 
to  the  memory  of  the  dead.  In  tiie  provinces  of  Norway,  Sweden  and  Denmark,  about 
"mi  rune-stones  are  found.  28 


kVGUSI    M  M.MSTR03I 


There  speeds  no  stream,   how  swift   soe'er, 
()*er  which  her  form  he  does  not  bear; 
How  sweet,  when  rushing  waters  frighten, 
Her  small   white  arms  around  him  tighten. 


Canto   I,   v.    ii,   ]).   28. 


-__ J 


*$: 


**M 


r^ 


z   « 


"  ""ftp  u,  •'.         ,-■/••>-/■     is  -    •"  ri'-^AiSs^vS'.  f  .^  -v-        -:- 

lip  P%*  li^ 


12 


The  foremost  flower  in  spring-time's  bed, 
The  first  strawberry  turning  red, 
The  earliest  ear  that  golden  groweth, 
He  srlad  and  true  on  her  bestoweth. 


13 


FRAMNAS,  THORSTENS  ESTATE 


But  childhood's  days  are  quickly  gone; — 
There  stands  an  ardent  youth  anon. 
With  pleading  glance  where  hope  is  dwelling; 
There  stands  a  maid  with  bosom  swelling. 


14  Young  Frithiof  seeks  the  chase  by  day, 

Whose  risks  would  many  a  heart  dismay; 
For  without  sword  and  without  lances 
He  fearless  on  the  bear  advances.* 

'  Such  contents  seem  to  have  been  frequent  in  the  chase. 
Finnbogi,  a  hero  of  the  tenth  century,  is  said  to  have  broken  the  back  of  a  bear  in 
unarmed  combat. 

"Upon  another  occasion,  Mr.  Falk  states,  a  badly  wounded  bear  rushed  upright  on 
its  hind  legs  on  a  peasant  who  bad  missed  lire,  and  had  seized  him  by  the  shoulders 
with  its  fore  paws  The  peasant,  on  his  side,  laid  hold  of  the  bear's  ears  and  shaggy  hair 
thereabouts.  The  bear  and  the  hunter,  a  man  of  uncommon  strength,  were  twice  down 
and  «ot  up  again  without  loosening  their  holds;  during  which  time  the  bear  had  bitten 
through  all  the  sinews  of  both  arms,  from  the  wrists  upwards,  and  was  at  last  approach- 
ing the  exhausted  peasant's  throat,  when  the  author  in  lucky  time  arrived,  and  by  one 
shi  i1  ended  the  conflict."— Lloyd. 

3d 


FRITFUOF  S  FIRST  BEAR. 


15  The  foes  are  struggling,  breast  to  breast; 
The  hunter  wins,  though  sorely  pressed, 
And  home  his  shaggy  prize  is  bearing; — 
How  shall  a  maid  forget  such  daring? 

16  For  woman  loveth  valor  rare; 
The  strong  is  worthy  of  the  fair; 
And  each  to  each  is  fitly  mated, 
As  helm  for  forehead  is  created. 

17  When  by  the  hearth-stone's  lurid  light 
He  read,  in  winter's  silent  night, 

A  song  of  bright  Valhalla's*  glory, 
And  gods  and  goddesses  of  story, — 

18  "Golden,"'  he  mused,  "is  Freya's  hair, 
As  grain-field  moved  by  summer  air; — 
But  Ingeborg's  compares  not  illy 
With  net  of  gold  round  rose  and  lily. 

19  "Iduna's1"  bosom,  rich  and  rare, 
Beneath  the  silken  green  heaves  fair; 
A  silk  I  know,  where  soft  reposes 

A  pair  of  light-elves  decked  with  roses. 

*Valhalla,  Valhal,  Walhalla  or  Valholl  (lit.  the  hall  of  the  slain),  is  the  hall  of  Oden 
(or  Odin),  the  heaven  of  heroes,  where  the  god  receives  all  those  who  die  violent  deaths, 
and  feasts  them  continually.     In  this  glorified  projection   of  their  earth-life  the  heroes 
amuse  themselves  with  daily  combat,  hewing  each   other  down   for  pastime;    and  their 
wounds,  however  severe,  are  healed  each  day  before  feast-time.    The  flesh  of  the  nightly- 
renewed  boar   Saehrimnir  is  their  food;    Andhrimnir  is  the  cook,  and  Eldhrimnir  the 
kettle.    So  it  is  said  in  Grimner'sSong:     "Andhrimnir  cooks  Saehrimnir  in  Eldhrimnir." 
"Five  hundred  lofty  doors,  I  ween. 
In  Valhall's  shining  halls  are  seen. 
And  twenty  added  twice  thereto; 
Einheriar  chiefs,  eight  hundred  men. 
From  each  march  out  together,  when 
To  battle  'gainst  the  wolf  they  go^' 

— Grimner's  Song. 
tGoddess  of  youth,  and  wife  of  Brage,  king  of  poets.    She  guards  the  apples   which 
she  gives  to  the  gods  when  they  feel  on-coming  age,  and  thus   at  once   restores  them  to 
youth.     So  will  they  be  preserved  until  the  end  of  the  world. 

Once,  however,  Iduna  and  her  box  of  apples,  through  the  scheming  of  I,oke,  the 
evil  one,  were  carried  away  by  the  giant  Thjasse  to  Jotunheim ;  and  only  threats  of  tort- 
ure and  death  frightened  Loke  into  securing  her  return. 

32 


IDUNA  AND  THE  APPLES  OF  YOUTH. 


'20  "And  FriggaV  eyes  are  quite  as  blue 

As  heaven's  cerulean  skies  to  view; — 
But  I  know  ryes  beside  whose  sparkle 
The  light-blue  spring-day  seems  to  darkle. 

21  "Why  praise  the  checks  of  Gerda+  so,— 
Fresh  snows  in  crimson  North-light's  glow? 
I  have  seen  cheeks  as  radiant  lighted 

As  if  two  morning  dawns  united. 

22  "A  heart  as  true  and  sweet  I  know 
As  Nanna's,*  though  not  lauded  so; 

Ne'er  on  the  tongues  of  skalds**shall  moulder 
Thy  praise,  O  Nanna's  happy  Balder.11 

23  "O  would  that  I,  as  thou,  might  fade, 
Lamented  by  a  faithful  maid 

That  would,  like  thy  fond  Nanna,  languish; 
Then  sweet  to  me  were  Hel's$  own  anguish." — 

24  But  Ingeborg,  the  princess  fair, 
Now  sits  and  sings  a  hero-air, 

And  weaves  in  cloth  the  hero's  story, 

The  blue  sea's  wave,  the  green  wood's  glory. 

*Oden's  wife,  and  queen  of  the  gods.  She  was  the  Juno  as  well  as  the  Ceres,  of  the 
Scandinavian  mythology. 

tFrey's  wife,  the  most  beautiful  of  women.  From  the  Allfather's  throne,  which  he 
had  presumptuously  ascended,  the  god  Fre y  beheld  in  the  North,  issuing  from  a  palaci  .  a 
female  form  of  such  beauty  that  her  glistening  hair  imparted  its  luster  both  to  air  ami 
water,  being  unable  to  obtain  this  mortal  beauty,  he  gave  to  Skimer  his  sword  as  prize 
for  obtaining  her  for  him  in  marriage.  A  magic  flame  surrounded  her,  who  was  deaf  to 
gifts  and  threats  as  well,  and  sorcery  alone  wrought  the  triumph. 

tBalder's  wife,  the  embodiment  of  fidelity  and  purity,  dying  heart-broken  at  his 
death,  and  burned  with  him  on  the  funeral  pile. 

''■'The  skalds  (or  minstrels)  enlivened  the  feasts  of  warriors  with  songs  or  recitals  i  if 
eds  of  heroes.    These  compositions  were  rendered  with  accompaniment  of  the  harp, 
ind  contained  much  history  and  tradition. 

The  "White  god"  or  "Golden-haired  god."  sou  of  Odeu  and  Frigga,  and  the  mildest 
and  most  merciful  of  all  the  gods.  — the  Rod  of  light.      "Oden's  second  son  is  Haider.    The 
wisest  of  the  asas  is  he.  and  the  most  sweetly  speaking." — STTJRLESON'S  Fdda. 
$Hel,  the  lower  world,— the  realm  of  Hela  the  goddess  of  death. 
It  is  also  called  Ilelheim.  and  corresponds  to  the  .Southern  Tartarus. 

34 


25  Upon  a  ground  of  snow-white  wool 
Roll  golden  shields  from  off  her  spool; 
And  ruddy  grow  the  battle  lances, 
While  silver-stiff  each  mail-coat  glances. 

26  And  as  the  strands  mass,  day  by  day. 
They  clearly  Frithiof's  face  portray; 
And  as  each  woven  feature  brightens, 
A  blush  of  joy  her  visage  lightens.* 

■27  But  Frithiof,  in  his  forest  search, 

An  "I"  and  "F:'f  carves  on  the  birch; 
Each  rune*  grows  to  the  other  near  it 
As  to  its  mate  a  loving  spirit. 

28  When  Day  o'er  arch  of  heaven  stands  fair 
(The  World-king  of  the  golden  hair), 
And  on  life's  tide  man  meets  his  brother, 
Then  think  they  only  of  each  other. 

29  When  Night  o'er  arch  of  heaven  stands  fair 
(Earth's  mother,  with  the  ebon  hair). 

And  silence  reigns,  and  stars  move  lonely, 
Then  dream  they  of  each  other  only. 

30  "Thou  Earth,  that  dost  in  spring-time's  hours 
Adorn  thy  verdant  locks  with  flowers, 

Thy  rarest  give!  A  wreath  designing 
For  Frithiof's  brow  will  I  be  twining." 

*Kmbroidery  was  one  of  the  chief  arts  taught  to  young  ladies  in  these  ages. 

''She,  to  glad  me,  marked  in  gold  thread, Southland  halls  and  Danish  swans."— Edda. 

"We  need  not  add  that  the  celebrated  Bayeux  tapestry  is  the  product  of  the  Scand- 
inavian needle."— Stevens. 

The  Bayeux  tapestry  is  a  web  214  feet  by  20  inches,  preserved  in  the  public  library, 
Bayeux.  on  which  is  t-mbroidered  the  scenes  of  William  the  Conqueror's  conquest  of  Eng- 
land ;  the  wonderful  work  is  said  to  he  of  Matilda,  wife  of  the  Norman  conqueror  (d.  1083), 
presented  to  the  cathedral  of  Bayeux  in  gratitude  for  its  bishop  Odo's  assistance  at  the 
battle  of  Hastings.  It  lias  1512  figures,  and  7i  historical  sections,  each  having  a  Latin  in- 
scription. 3b  tiugcborg  auil  Frithiof.     ^Letter. 


KKUT  KKW.vl  L 


But  Ingeborg,  the  princess  fair, 

Now  sits  and  sings  a  hero-air, 

And  weaves  in  cloth  the  hero's  story, 

The  blue  sea's  wave,    the  green   wood's  glory. 

Canto  I.  v.  24,  p.  34.) 


31  "Thou  Ocean,  of  whose  darksome  halls 
A  thousand  pearls  bedeck  the  walls, 
Give  me  thy  richest  and  thy  rarest, 
For  Ingeborg,  of  maids  the  fairest." 

32  "Thou  Summit  of  King  Oden's*  throne, 
Eye  of  the  world,  0  golden  Sun, 

Wert  thou  but  mine,  thy  circle  beaming 
A  shield  for  Frithiof  should  be  gleaming." 

33  "Thou  lamp  that  lightest  Oden's  night, 

0  Moon,  with  thine  all-pallid  light, 

Wert  thou  but  mine,  I'd  give  with  pleasure 
To  my  fair  maid  such  jewel-treasure." 

34  But  Hilding  said:  "0  foster-son, 
By  hopeless  love  be  not  undone! 
A  prouder  life  the  norns  allot  her; 
The  maiden  is  King  BeleV  daughter. 

35  "With  Oden's  self  in  star-lit  skies 
Her  race  immortal  took  its  rise; 

Thou  art  but  Thorsten's  son;  take  warning! 
For  like  to  like  must  e'er  be  turning." 

36  But  Frithiof  laughed:   "My  earliest  breath 
Was  taken  in  the  vales  of  death. 

1  slew  the  forest's  king  so  brawny, — 
His  shaggy  race  my  patrimony. 


*  Oden,  (or  Odin),  the  father  of  the  gods,  also  called  Woden,  Alfader,  or  Allfather, 
whose  throne  overlooks  heaven  and  earth,  and  who  rules  the  universe— the  Jupiter  (or 
Jove)  of  the  Latins,  and  the  Zeus  of  the  Creeks.  Two  ravens,  Hugin  and  Munin,  sit  upon 
his  shoulders;  two  wolves,  Geri  and  Freki,  lie  at  his  feet;  and  his  spear,  Gungnar,  is  al- 
w  aj  s  with  him.    Oden  has  been  called  the  "center  and  focus  of  all  Northern  mythology." 

t  King  Bele  ruled  over  one  of  the  most  prosperous  provinces  of  Norway,  in  the  West- 
ern part,  on  the  fjord  of  Sogne.  He  was  noted  for  his  noble  deeds  and  his  exploits  in  far- 
off  lands;  and  in  the  great  mead-hall  of  his  palace,  he  and  his  friend  Thorstcn,  would 
tell  of  their  adventures  in  such  manner  that  the  champions  forgot  to  drain  their  goblets. 

38 


KXl'T    EKWALL 


The  foes  are  struggling,  breast  to  breast; 
The  hunter  wins,  though  sorely  pr< 
And  home  his  shaggy  prize  is  bearing; — 
How  shall  a  maid  forget  such  daring? 

Cant..  I.   v. 
39 


i.S.   p.  32^ 


37  "Seek  not  the  free-born  man  to  warn, — 
To  win  the  world  the  free  was  born: 
For  all  her  ills  Fate  respite  beareth, 
And  Hope  a  crown  imperial  weareth. 

38  "All  strength  is  noble-born;  for  Thor* 
Of  Trudvang+  is  its  ancestor: 

Not  birth,  but  worth,  by  him  is  treasured, 
And  lover  by  his  sword  is  measured. 

39  "For  my  young  bride  I'd  pour  my  blood, 
Though  1  must  fight  the  thunder's  god!* 
My  spotless  lily,  fear  thou  never; 

Woe  be  to  him  who  us  would  sever!" 

*The  "Thunderer,"  eldest  son  of  Oden,  and  second  of  the  gods;  — the  god  of  the 
mighty  hammer,  the  girdle  of  strength,  and  the  iron  gloves,  — the  strongest  of  all  the  gods 
—the  Mars  of  the  north. 

t'fhor's  castle  in  Valhalla,  — "mansion  of  the  strong." 

*Thor. 


TIIOR   AND  HIS  TEAM  OF  COATS. 


■  r->c  Stories  ' 
Copyright   1900.   by 

iduh.  i 


(Eanln  li>prmti». 


King  Bele  and  Thorsteu,  now  full  of  years,  have  summoned 
their  sous  to  the  royal  palace,  to  listen  to  some  words  of  admoni- 
tion before  the  venerable  fathers  are  to  leave  this  earth. 

Helge,  the  elder  son  of  Bele,  of  gloomy  and  sinister  disposi- 
tion, was  accustomed  to  spend  the  most  of  his  time  in  the  temple, 
where  the  priests  taught  him  the  mysteries  of  the  oracle. 

Halfdan.  the  younger  son,  was  a  laughing  boy— almost  a 
mere  child,  — not  unworthy,  but  weak. 

Frithiof,  Thorsten's  son,  was  greatly  superior,  both  in  physi- 
cal and  mental  status,  to  the  royal  sons. 

It  was  the  hope  of  Bele  and  Thorsten  to  cement  the  friend- 
ship of  their  sons,  in  order  to  protect  the  kingdom,  as  their  own 
united  strength  had  safeguarded  it  heretofore.  And  now  these  last 
paternal  utterances,  inspired  by  the  contemplation  of  eternal 
things,  fall  from  the  aged  lips  with  all  the  repose  of  the  evening  of 
life,  with  all  the  solemnity  of  the  morning  of  death. 

With  runic  wisdom  upon  their  tongues,  they  dismiss  their  be- 
loved sons  with  the  final  blessing  of  Oden,  Frey  and  Thor,  desiring 
to  be  buried  in  cairns  on  directly  opposite  sides  of  the  fjord,  each 
on  his  own  domain,  and  near  the  water's  edge,  where  the  murmur 
of  the  waves  might  forever  fall  upon  their  ears,  and  where  their 
spirits,  ascending  from  the  tomb  (which  the  departed  Scandina- 
vian >pirit  was  believed  to  occupy)  might,  when  the  mellow  moon- 
light melts  upon  the  mountain,  and  the  midnight  dew  descends 
upon  the  stone  of  death,  calmly  sit  and  hold  counsel  with  each 
other,  across  the  interjacent  billows,  upon  all  that  the  future  held 
yet  in  store. 


42 


SCttui  Hfle  a»&  ®luinitrtt. 


ING  BELE,  sword-sustained,  in  his 

palace  stood,      1 

With  Thorsten,*  son  of  Viking,  and 

peasant  -ood, — 


D  ; 


His  centenarian  comrade  in  martial  -lory.  - 

With  visage  scarred  as  rnne-stone,  with  locks  all  hoary 

They  stood  like  aged  temples  on  mountains  lone, 

To  heathen  gods  devoted,  now  half-o'erthrown; 

But  all  their  rune-carved  walls  are  of  wisdom  tellmg, 

W  memories  divine  in  their  vaults  are  dwelling. 


3       "It  grows  fast  toward  the  evening,"  said  Bele  King, 
"The  mead  tastes  ill,  the  helmet  weighs  burdening; 
Before  mine  eye  the  fortunes  of  mortals  darken; 
But  Valhall  nearer  gleams,  as  to  Death  I  harken. 

■1        "My  sons  I  here  have  bidden,  and  likewise  thine, 
Whose  lives  should  be  united,  as  thine  and  mine. 
Some  counsel  to  the  eaglets  would  I  deliver, 
Ere  on  the  tongue  of  death  sleep  all  words  forever." 

5  Then  at  King  Bele's  signal  they  enter  in; 
And  first  of  all  comes  Helge,*  of  sullen  mien; — 
He,  who  about  the  altar  with  spa3inen+  lingers, 
Appears  with  blood  of  victims  upon  his  fingers. 

6  And  after  him  walked  Halfdan,*  a  youth  light-haired, 
"Whose  noble  face  both  honor  and  weakness  shared; 
He  gaily  bore  the  sword  in  his  cincture  gleaming, 
And  of  a  maiden  armored  had  all  the  seeming. 

7  But  after  them  came  Frithiof  *  in  mantle  blue, 
By  height  of  head  surpassing  the  other  two. 

He  stood  between  the  brothers,  like  Day  unclouded 
Between  the  rosy  Morn  and  the  Night  enshrouded. 

8  "Children,"  the  king  addressed  them, "my  sun  goes  down! 
In  peace  and  love  fraternal  maintain  the  crown; 

For  concord  binds  together,  and  strength  increases, 
As  ferrule  holds  the  lance  lest  it  split  in  pieces. 

*  The  two  sons  of  King  Bele,  and  brothers  of  Ingeborg.       +  Sacrificers,  soothsayers. 

$  In  warlike  exploits  Frithiof  excelled,  and  became  of  men  the  most  renowned. 

The  ancient  Saga  of  Frithiof  the  Bold,  affording  the  outline  of  this  work  of  our  great 
poet,  thus  describes  the  hero:  "Frithiof  seemed  to  excel  all  the  other  young  men  of  his 
time,  and  the  king's  sons  envied  him  that  he  got  more  renown  than  they." 

Yet  Frithiof  was  comrade  to  Helge  and  Halfdan,  and  all  was  well  between  them 
until  Frithiof  s  love  for  Ingeborg  was  revealed. 

44 


VUGUST     MM  M-n  " 


"My  sons  I  here  have  bidden,  and  likewise  thine. 
Whose  lives  should  be  united,  as  thine  and  mine. 
Some  counsel  to  the  eaglets  would  I  deliver, 
Bre  on  the  tongue  of  death  sleep  all  words  forever." 

(Canto  II,   v.  4,  p.  44.  ) 


9      "Let  might  now  stand  as  guard  to  our  nation's  door, 
And  peace  unsullied  flourish  from  shore  to  shore! 
The  sword  is  for  defense,  not  for  slaying  foemen, 
And  shields  were  forced  as  locks  for  the  barns  of  yeomen.  * 

10     '"Who  would  oppress  his  land,  were  a  foolish  man, 
For  kings  can  only  do  what  their  subjects  can; 
The  mountain  tree  now  verdant  will  fade  to-morrow, 
Tt  fr the  earth  no  moisture  its  roots  may  borrow. 


ANCIENT  MEAD-HALL  + 

11      ''Upheld  by  four  great  pillars,  the  heavens  stand,* 
But  law's  support  alone  doth  our  throne  demand; 
Unjust  dominion  hastens  disaster's  story, 
But  right  means  people's  welfare  and  ruler's  glory. 

* 'It  was  the  most  noble  manner  in  wliicli  a  hero  could  employ  his  leisure,  to  polish 
his  shield  to  the  utmost  brightness,  and  to  represent  upon  it  either  some  gallant  feat,  or 
some  emblematical  figure  expressive  of  his  own  inclinations  or  exploits;  and  this  served 
to  distinguish  him.  when,  being  armed  at  all  points,  his  helmet  hid  his  face.  .  .  When 
;i  young  warrior  was  at  first  enlisted,  they  gave  him  a  white  and  smooth  buckler.  .  .  . 
None  but  princes,  or  persons  distinguished  by  their  services,  presumed  to  carry  shields 
adorned  by  any  symbol."— Northern  Antiquities. 

+  The  old  halls  were  characterized  by  the  central  fire,  the  host's  high  seat,  the  dais 
or  guests'  seat  extending  around  the  room,  the  shields,  swords  and  spears  decorating  the 
walls,  and  the  smoke-escapes  in  the  raftered  roof. 

X  So  the  ancient  Egyptians  believed. 

46 


"Helge,  in  Disarsal*  do  the  high  gods  dwell, —  12 

But  dwell  they  not,  like  snails,  in  a  narrow  shell; 
As  far  as  reaches  tone  or  the  light  supernal, 
As  far  as  thought  can  fly,  move  the  gods  eternal. 

''Oft  false  the  signs  of  sacrificed  hawk  are  shown,*  13 

And  myriad  runes  deceive,  though  engraved  on  stone; 
But  hearts  sincere,  O  Helge,  and  upright  ever. 
Has  Oden  writ  with  runes  that  beguile  us  never. 

uBe  not  austere,  King  Helge,  be  only  staid!  14 

The  sword  that  keenest  bites  has  the  lithest  blade. 
A  king  is  graced  by  mildness,  as  shield  by  flowers, 
And  springtime's  sun  the  winter-born  cold  o'erpowers. 

"A  man  of  friends  bereft,  though  he  yet  be  strong,  15 

Like  oak  despoiled  of  bark,  cannot  sojourn  long!" 
With  friends,  he  thrives  as  tree  in  the  forest  groweth, 
Refreshed  by  brooks  and  safe  from  the  storm  that  bloweth. 

"Boast  not  ancestral  glory!     Each  stands  alone;  i»; 

Canst  thou  not  bend  the  bow,  it  is  not  thine  own. 
What  wouldst  thou  do  with  merit  that  lieth  buried? 
By  their  own  force  the  currents  of  seas11  are  hurried. 

*The  hall  of  all  the  gods,— a  pantheon. 

+  The  falcon,  or  hawk,  was  the  sacred  bird  of  Oden,  and  augurship  from  its  entrails 
was  quite  usual.  Professional  diviners,  called  prophets,  whose  dicta  were  held  in  high 
reverence,  prevailed  also  in  the  North.  They  were  said  to  have  ever-present  familiar 
spirits,  and  they  forced  upon  the  credulity  of  the  people  the  belief  that  the  runic  letters, 
read  only  by  the  few,  possessed  magical  powers,  varying  as  employed  in  various  combina- 
tions, especially  for  the  presaging  of  coming  events.  The  skalds  also,  in  the  words  of 
Mallet,  "boasted  a  power  of  disturbing  the  repose  of  the  dead,  and  of  dragging  them  out 
of  their  gloomy  abodes  by  force  of  certain  songs  which  they  knew  how  to  compose." 

Human  sacrifices,  too,  were  offered,  the  examination  of  whose  entrails  and  blood- 
effusion,  determined  the  else  uncertain  future. 
t"A  tree  withers, 

Protects  it  neither  bark  nor  leaves. 
That  on  a  hill-top  stands; 
Such  is  the  man 
Whom  no  one  favors; 
Why  should  he  live  long."  —  Havamal. 
liThe  rivers  pouring  their  mighty  volumes  of  water  far  out  into  the  ocean. 

47 


>-bn 


ODEN  ON  MIS  LOFTY  THRONE 


\  roin  Old  Nome  Storian, 

Copyright   1900.  by       J 

Sarah    Potvrrn   Bradnh.  ] 


"A  wise  man's  wealth,  O  Halfdan,  from  joy  doth  spring;      17 
But  babble  graceth  none — least  of  all,  a  king. 
Both  hops  and  honey  join  in  the  mead's  formation; — 
Put  steel  in  swords,  in  pleasure  put  moderation. 

Too  wise  is  no  man,  howsoe'er  wise  he  be,  18 

And  dim  enough  his  light  who  no  truth  can  see. 
The  untaught  guest  is  scorned,  although  highly  seated: 
But  to  the  wise,  low-stationed,  is  honor  meted. 

"To  foster-brother,  Halfdan,  or  true-fast  friend.  19 

Short  is  the  pathway,  though  it  afar  extend; 
But  distant  lies  thine  enemy's  habitation, 
Though  by  the  very  wayside  appear  its  station. 

"Choose  not  the  friendship  first  upon  thee  imposed ; 
An  empty  house  stands  open,  the  rich  is  closed. 
Choose  one;  vain  quest  for  others  aside  be  throwing. 
The  world  doth  know,  O  Halfdan.  what  three  are  knowing.'' 

Thereafter  uprose  Thorsten,  discoursing  so:  21 

"The  king  alone  should  never  to  Oden  go. 
Life's  changes  we,  King  Bele,  have  shared  true-hearted. 
And  e'en  in  death  I  trust  we  shall  not  be  parted. 

"Son  Frithiof,  Age  has  whispered  within  mine  ear  22 

Full  many  a  word  of  warning  which  thou  shouldst  hear: 
O'er  Northern  graves  the  ravens  of  Oden  hover.' 
And  myriad  truths  the  lips  of  the  aged  cover. 

*Hugin  (Observation)  and  Munin  (Memory),  the  birds  that  daily  flew  around  the 
earth,  and  nightly  sat  postured  upon  their  accustomed  pedestal,  the  shoulders  of  the  god, 
and  whispered  in  his  ears  the  knowledge  gleaned  in  their  tern  strial  tour. 

The  raven  was  placed  as  an  ensign  upon  the  national  flag  of  Denmark. 


stone,  erected  on  the  Fjord  of  Sogne,  1100  years  ago. 

49 


23  ''Revere  the  high  gods  foremost:  for  good  and  ill, 
Like  storm  and  sunshine,  come  but  of  heaven's  will. 

The  heart's  lone  vault,  though  closed,  are  the  gods  exploring; 
And  years  a  moment's  ruin  must  be  restoring. 

24  "Obey  the  king!  One  monarch  should  rule  alone; 
Dark  night  has  eyes  unnumbered,  the  day  but  one. 
The  better  e'er  proclaimeth  the  best  ascendant. 
On  trusty  hilt  is  keenest  of  swords  dependent. 


FRITHIOF'S  BAUTA-STONE. 

(Bergen  8  Stift.  Sogne.) 


25      (Treat  strength  is  given  by  heaven;  but,  Frithiof,  know- 
That  power  unlinked  with  wisdom  can  naught  bestow. 
A  bear  with  twelve  men's  strength  is  by  one  man  mastered; 
The  shield  defeats  the  sword-thrust. — the  law7,  the  dastard. 


•26      "The  proud  is  feared  by  few,  but  despised  by  all, 
And  arrogance,  O  Frithiof.  precedes  a  fall. 
Aloft  have  many  soared  now  on  crutches  bending; — 
Crops  come  by  weather,  fortune  the  winds  are  sending. 

*  "Over  all  those  men  who  any  manly  exploit  have  performed,  should  banta-stones 
be  raised."  —  Yxglinga  Saga.  50 


The  day  is  better  prized  when  its  sun  is  sunk,*  27 

And  counsel  best  when  heeded,  and  ale  when  drunk. 
A  young  man's  faith  on  shadows  is  often  rested: 
The  blade  by  combat,  friendship  by  need,  is  tested. 

'•Trust  not  the  one-night  ice,  nor  the  spring-day  snow.       28 
Nor  sleeping  snake,  nor  suppliant  maiden's  vow: 
For  woman's  heart  is  turned  on  a  wheel  that  rolleth. 
And  neath  the  hue  of  lily  caprice  controlleth. 

"To  thee  and  thine  comes  death  as  the  common  lot,  29 

But  one  thing  know  I,  Frithiof,  that  dieth  not: 
The  self-writ  records  left  by  the  men  who  perish; 
Choose  therefore  thou  the  right,  and  the  noble  cherish !" 


!••  + 


Thus  warned  the  aged  men  in  the  palace  hall,  30 

As  since  the  skald  has  chanted  in  Havamal.* 
And  age  has  been  these  proverbs  to  age  bequeathing. 
And  still  from  Northern  tombs  are  their  voices  breathing. 

Thus  spoke  the  two,  in  many  a  heart-felt  tone.  31 

Of  their  unchanging  friendship,  in  Northland  known ; 
How,  with  a  death-true  faith,  both  in  joy  and  sadness, 
As  two  clasped  hands,  their  lives  had  been  one  in  gladness. 

*"At  eve  the  day  is  to  be  praised, 
A  woman  after  she  is  dead, 
A  sword  after  it  is  proved, 
A  maid  after  she  is  married. 
Ice  after  it  has  been  crossed. 
Beer  after  it  is  drunk."  — Havamal. 
+"Riches  perish,  kinsmen  perish,  thou  must  perish  too; 
This,  I  wot,  dieth  not,— doom  to  mortals  due."  — Havamal. 
iThe  oldest  Scandinavian  songs,  myths,  traditions  and  philosophy,  were  compiled 
by  Saemund,  a  Christian  priest  of  Iceland,  about  A.  D.  1100.  in  a  volume  called  the  Elder, 
or  Poetic,  Edda.     A  century  later,  a  prose  synopsis  of  these  poems,  with  other  legends, 
was  produced  by  Sturleson,  an  Icelander,  and  Skald  or  court-poet  in  Norway;  and  this 
:iook  was  called  the  Younger,  or  Prose,  Edda.     The  name  given  to  the  second  chapter  of 
the  Poetic  Edda  is  Havamal  or  Havermal,  the  source  of  many  of  these  apothegms. 

"This  sublime  discourse  is  attributed  to  Oden  himself,  who  is  said  to  have  given 
these  precepts  of  wisdom  to  mankind.  This  piece  is  the  only  one  of  the  kind  now  in  the 
world.  We  have  directly  from  the  ancient  Scythians  themselves  no  other  monument  on 
the  subject  of  morality."  — Mallet 

"The  whole,"  says  Stevens, "deserves  immortality  in  every  language  on  God's  earth." 

51 


THP  NORN'S  AT  URD'S  FOUNTAIN. 


"With  back  to  back  we  stood  on  the  battle-field,  32 

And  when  a  aorn*  approached  us,  she  met  a  shield! 
Now  aged  we,  ere  ye,  ValhalFs  light  discover; 
And  may  your  fathers'  spirits  around  you  hover!*' 

The  king  was  long  discoursing  of  Frithiof's  worth,  33 

His  hero-strength  outweighing  all  regal  birth, 
And  long  did  Thorsten  speak  of  the  ancient  glory 
That  crowned  the  god-born  monarchs  of  Northern  story. 

"But  hold  ye  fast  together,  O  children  three,  34 

And  conqueror — I  know — shall  the  North  ne'er  see; 
For  power  with  kingly  honor  and  greatness  holden, 
Is  like  a  blue-steel  border  to  shield  all  golden. 

"And  greet  my  daughter  Ingeborg — rosebud  sweet —         35 
Who  fostered  was  in  quiet,  as  seemed  it  meet; 
O  guard  her, — let  no  tempest  above  her  lower, 
And  fasten  in  his  helmet  my  fragile  flower. 

"On  thee,  King  Helge,  place  I  a  father's  care;  36 

Love  as  thine  own  mine  Ingeborg,  daughter  fair! 
Constraint  provokes  great  spirits ;  but  precepts  tender 
In  man  and  woman  honor  and  right  engender. — 

"But  lay  us  now,  ye  children,  in  grave-mounds  two,  37 

On  either  side  the  fjord,  by  its  billows  blue;     • 
Where  still  their  song  will  gladden  the  souls  that  hear  it, 
Descending  like  a  dirge  on  the  resting  spirit. 

*The  Norns  are  the  fates,  or  destinies.  They  are  three  in  number;  they  engrave  the 
runic  tablets,  and  weave  the  fate  of  men.  They  correspond  to  the  Parca;  of  the  Romans. 
The  uorn  of  the  past  is  Urda:  of  the  present,  Verdandi;  of  the  future,  Skulda.  Inthecut 
of  the  norns  they  are  seated  by  Urda's  fountain,  under  the  great  ash  tree,  Yggdrasil.  In 
this  stanza,  the  term  norn  personifies  the  death-bearing  dart  of  the  enemy. 

"Thence  come  maidens  much  discerning. 

Three  from  that  hall  which  stands  tree-crowned; 

Staves  they  rune-scribe.'"— Voluspa. 

53 


FRKY  AND  HIS  STEED    GOLDEN-BRISTL1 


Prom  Old   Nome  Stt>ru*< 

Copyright    1900.   by 

Sarah    Powers   Bradi»h 


"When  streams  the  moon's  pale  light  on  the  mountain 

blue, 
And  o'er  the  bantu-stone  fulls  the  midnight  dew, 
Then  will  we  mount,  O  Thorsten,  our  mounds  entombing 
And  speuk  across  the  waters,  of  things  forthcoming. 


38 


"And  now,  ye  sons,  furewell!    Hither  no  more  turn.*  39 

Our  course  is  to  Allfuther;  for  him  we  yearn, 

Like  weary  rivers  onward  to  ocean  pressing; 

May  Oden,  Frey+  and  Thor  give  to  you  their  blessing!  " 

*The  simultaneous  farewell  of  the  two  aged  men  would  indicate  intended  suicide.— 
the  usual  exit  of  aged  heroes.  This  assumption  better  suited  the  purposes  of  our  poet, 
although  departing  at  this  point  from  the  old  Saga. 

+Or  Freyr,  one  of  the  greatest  of  the  gods,  presiding  over  storm  and  sunshine,  har- 
vests and  wealth.     He  is  the  brother  of  Freya. 

"Frey  is  the  chiefest  among  the  gods;  he  ruleth  over  rain  and  sunshine  and  the 
7>roduce  of  the  earth,  and  on  him  it  is  good  to  call  for  harvests  and  for  peace.  Over  the 
goods  of  men  ruleth  he  also."— The  Yoi/nger  IJdda. 


55 


(Eattto  Gttrird. 


In  this  Canto  the  patrimony  of  Frithiof  is  described,  — Framnas, 
his  father's  estate,  his  broad  acreage  of  many  miles,  and  the  great 
mead-hall,  seating  many  hundreds  of  guests,  in  which  Frithiof 
held  the  "grave-feast"  in  honor  of  his  father's  memory. 

But  of  all  Frithiof's  heritage,  three  objects  were  of  the  greatest 
renown:  Angurvadel.  the  golden-hilted  sword;  the  arm-ring,  or 
bracelet,  made  by  Vaulund;  and  Ellida,  the  dragon-ship,  which 
Agir,  the  sea-god.  had  given  to  Frithiof's  grandfather.  Viking. 

The  hall  of  Frithiof  seems  a  palace  in  itself,  and  worthy  in  all 
respects  even  of  a  sovereign.  Yet  Frithiof  is  a  sorrowful  host, 
since  the  father  to  whom  he  was  so  devoted  has  left  his  halls  forever. 

Twelve  armed  warriors,  or  champions,  coustautly  attend  and 
guard  the  hero,  of  whom  the  youngest  is  Bjorn,  foster-brother  of 
Frithiof,  whose  mutual  friendship  through  life  remained  unbroken. 

The  meter  of  this  canto,  the  dactylic  hexameter,  called  the 
"heroic"  meter,  is  strictly  Homeric  — a  mixture  of  dactyls  and 
spondees.  In  all  languages  where  spondees  abound,  this  rhythm  has 
no  equal  for  the  depicting  of  epic  scenes.  As  the  spondaic  foot  re- 
quires, for  its  two  accented  syllables,  a  compound  word,  or  two 
monosyllables  with  plentiful  consonants,  or  a  pause  (written  or 
caesural)  between  the  syllables,  in  order  to  retard  the  motion,  this 
meter  becomes  extremely  difficult  in  English,  where  accent,  not 
quantity,  is  the  measuring-rod  of  the  poetic  foot. 


56 


III. 
irrttbtofs  3lnli?ritanr*. 

X"  iliOTH  were  now  placed  in  their  tombs, 

mJ  King  Bele  and  Thorsten,  the  old  man, 

Where  they  themselves    had  bidden;  on  either 

side  of  the  inlet,* 
High  rose  the  grave-mounds  over  the  two  fond 

hearts  death  had  severed. 
Helge  and  Halfdan  took  jointly  the  throne  of 

Bele  their  father, 
By  the  decree  of  the  people;  but  Frithiof,  being 
<ffiaoocJ>  the  sole  child, 

*The  Sogne  Fjord,  longest  of  all  the  Norwegian  fjords,  penetrates  Norway  to  a  dis- 
tance of  106  miles,  with  a  width  of  2  to  4  miles. 

Eastward  its  scenery  grows  wilder  and  grander,  and  sometimes  its  nearly  perpen- 
dicular mile-high  walls,  whence  numberless  water-falls  spin  their  silken  threads,  extend 
as  far  beneath  as  above  the  water's  surface.  King  Bele's  mound  was  on  the  North  side, 
Thorsteu's  on  the  South  side,  of  the  fjord,  whose  width  at  that  point  was  only  6,000  feet. 

57 


Portioned  his  fortune  with  none,  in  quietude  dwelling  at 

Framnas.* 
Three    milesf  around  extended  the  wealth  of  his  ample 

possessions ; 
Vale,  hill,  and  mountain  lined  three  sides,  the  fourth 

was  laved  by  the  ocean. 
Forests  of  birch  crowned  the  hill-crests,  upon  whose 

borders  inclining, 
10      Flourished  the  golcLhued  corn,  and  man-high  wavered 

the  rye-growth. 


Many  to  tell  were  the  lakes  that  their  mirrors  held  for 

the  mountains, — 
Held  for  the  green  woods,  too,  where  the  high-horned 

elks  ever  sportive 
Ranged  in  their  royal  life,  and  drank  from  hundreds 

of  brooklets. 
But  in  the    valleys  around,  were  grazing,  on  velvety 

greenswards, 

*Frithiof's  estate,  occupying  a  promontory  of  the  same  name  on  the  south  side  o: 
the  fjord— just  across  from  Balholm,  King  Bele's  realm.  The  modern  Vangsnas  is  iden- 
tical with  Framnas.    See  map,  frontispiece.  tA  Swedish  mile  equals  6.648  Rng.  miles. 

58 


Herds  with  a  glistening  skin   and  udders  that  longed      15 
for  the  milk-pail. 

Scattered  among  them,  anear  and  afar,  in  myriad  num- 
bers 

Wandered  the  white-wooled  sheep,  like  cumulate  mass- 
es of  fleece-clouds 

Flockwise   borne   through  the  vault   of  the  azure    by 
breezes  of  spring-time. 

Coursers  twice  twelve,  and  impetuous,  restless  as  winds 
that  are  fettered, 

Clamorous  stamped  their  stalls,  consuming  the   hay  of     20 
the  meadows; 

Knotted  with   red  their  manes,  and  their  hoofs  were 
gleaming  with  steel  shoes. 

Stationed  apart  was  the  drink-hall,  built  of  the  heart  of 

the  fir-tree; 
Counting  ten    twelves    to  the    hundred,  five  hundred 

men  were  unable 
This  ample  mead-hall  to  fill,  when  meeting  to  drink  at 

the  Yule-tide. 
Down  through  its  length  entire  was   extended  a  table       25 

of  stone- oak, 
Polished  till  shining  as  steel;  and  carved  of  the  wood  of 

the  elm -tree, 
Placed  at  the  end  of  the  board,  two  gods  marked  the 

stations  of  honor, — 
Oden  with  glance  of  a  monarch,  and  Frey  with  the  sun 

on  his  helmet; 
Lately  between  them  both,     on  a  bear-skin  (its  color 

was  coal-black, 

*The  duodecimal  computation,  in  which  the  long  or  great  hundred  equals  120.  was 
always  employed  by  the  Norsemen  in  numbering  men,  and  is  still  common  in  some 
parts  of  Scandinavia. 

59 


30     Having  the  mouth  scarlet  red,  and  the  claws  surmounted 
with  silver), 

Thorsten  had  sat  with  his  friends, — Hospitality  wait- 
ing on  Gladness. 

Oft'  when   the  moon    through   the    skies  was    flying, 
related  the  old  man 

Wonders  of  distant  lands  he  had  seen,  and  his  journeys 
as  viking, 

Far  on  the  Eastern*  sea,  the    Western*  brine,  and  the 
Grand  vik.* 
35     Mute  sat  the  listening  throng,  their  gaze   on  his  lips 
ever  hanging, 

As  on  its  rose  hangs  the  bee;  but  the  skald  was  think- 
of  Brage,1"1" 

When  with  his  silvery  beard,  and  with  runes  on  his 
tongue,  he  is  sitting 

Under  the  shadowy  beech,  reciting  a  saga**  by  Mimer's11 

Ceaselessly  purling  fountain,  himself  a  saga  abiding. 
40     Now  in  the  midst  of  the  straw-strown  floor,  and  bright 
on  its  walled  hearth, 

Constant  was  glowing  a  fire;    and  down  through  the 
great  airy  smoke-flue 

Into  the  hall  looked  the  friendly  eyes  of  the  planets  su- 
pernal. 

Lining  the  walls,  on  nails  of  steel,  in  rows  were  sus- 
pended 

Helmets  and  coats-of-mail  together,  and  frequent  amid 
them 

*The  Baltic  Sea.    +The  North  Sea.    *The  White  Sea. 
++Son  of  Oden  and  Frigga,  the  god  of  poetry  and  song;  — written  also  Bragi.     He  was 
the  husband  of  Iduna,  and  the  greatest  of  all  the  skalds,— an  old   man  with  snow-white 
beard  extending  to  his  girdle,  a  golden  harp  in  his  hands,  and  a  voice  sweet,  sonorous 
and  fascinating.   He  was  the  self-accompanied  Master  of  Song. 

tt-A  tale  or  story. 

llThe  keeper  of  the  Fountain  of  Wisdom,  open  only  to  Oden  and  Brage.  For  a 
draught  from  this  well,  Oden  parted  with  one  of  his  eyes,  which  may  yet  be  seen  in  the 
flood.    Oden  is  always  pictured  as  having  but  one  eye. 

6o 


FRITHIOFS  HALL. 


45      Lightning-like  glittered  a  sword,  as  shoots  in  the  win- 
ter a  night-star. 

Yet,    more   brilliant   than   helmet    and    sword   in    the 
hall  gleamed  the  war-shields, 

Bright  as  the  sun's  golden  circle,  bright  as  the  moon's 
disc  of  silver. 

Passed  there  a  maiden,  betimes,  round  the  board,  refill- 
ing the  mead-horns, 

Casting  her  eye  down  and  blushing;  by  shields  was  re- 
flected her  image, 
50      Blushing  as  sweetly  as  she,  and  delighting  the  mead- 
drinking  warriors. 

Rich  was  the  house,  and  wherever  the  eye  were  turned, 
it  would  fall  on 

Cellars  well  filled,  and  cupboards  crammed,  and  bounti- 
ful store  rooms. 

Many    a  jewel  likewise    shone    as  a  souvenir  of  con- 
quest,— 

Gold  all  engraven  with  runes,  and  rich-carved  art -works 
of  silver. 
55      But  of  these  jewels  and  treasures,  three  objects  were 
valued  the  highest. 

First  of  the  three  was  a  sword,  to  son  from  father  de- 
scended, 
Angurvadel*  the  name  it  bore,  the  Brother  of  Light- 
ning- 
Fashioned   it  was  afar   in   the  East,  the  saga  declar- 
ed, 

*I.,iterally  "grief-wader,"  or  "ford  of  sorrow."  The  name  was  perhaps  given  from 
the  blue  color  and  transparency  of  the  steel  It  is  also  written  Angurvadil  and  Angrvat- 
hill.  Many  of  the  old  swords  of  the  North,  like  those  of  the  Cimbri,  were  engraved  with 
mysterious  characters,  and  given  names  that  were  designed  to  inspire  terror.  Angur- 
vadel was  Frithiof's  ever  present  comrade,  mighty  for  defense,  and  ready  for  vengeance 
if  needed. 

62 


Tempered  in  fire  by  the  dwarfs,* 
and  wielded  first  by  Bjorn  Bla- 
tandt 

Bjorn  was  robbed  of  the  sword  60 
and  his  life,  at  one  and  the  same 
time, 

South  in  the  sound  of  Groning*  in 
combat  with  Vifell^  the  mighty. 

Vifell's  sole  son  was  Viking.  At 
Ulleraker**  was  dwelling, 

Old  and  decrepit,  a  king,  and  with 
him  his  beautiful  daughter. 

Lo!  From  the  depths  of  the  for- 
est, there  strutted  a  giant  un- 
shapely, 

Greater  of  stature  than  men  are,  65 
and  shaggy  and  wild  and  fero- 
cious. 

Hand-to-hand  battle  demanding, 
or  daughter  of  king  and  the  king- 
dom ! 

No  one  would  venture  the  com- 
bat, for  no  one  the  steel  was  pos- 
sessing 

Potent  his  skull  totransfix,hence 
Iron-skull  did  they  call  him. 

Viking  alone,who  but  late  his  fif- 
teenth year  had  completed, 


*The  Dwarfs  were  supposed  to  have  immigrated  into  Norway  and  Sweden  from 
Lapland.  They  were  the  Cyclops  of  the  North  — miniature  miners  and  mechanics,  of  l  o- 
eous  forms  and  malignant  dispositions,  but  of  great  skill.  These  pygmy  artisans  wett 
engendered  in  the  flesh  of  the  giant  Ymer,  and  dwelt  in  the  rocks  and  caverns  of  the  earth 
Metal  working  and  magic  were  their  favorite  arts.  Giants  and  dwarfs  seem  to  enter  into 
the  fabulous  history  of  all  nations. 

+"Blue-toooth."  "His  teeth  were  blue  of  color,  and  an  ell  and  a  half  stood  they  out 
of  his  mouth.    Therewith  slew  he  people  iu  battle."  tBetween  Seeland  and  Kalster. 

$Great-grandfather  to  Frithiof.  **  Woolen  Acre,  a  fylke-kingdom  o(  S«  eden. 

63 


Entered  the  fight,  with  hope  in  his  arm  and  the  great 

Angnrvadel, — 
Cleft  in  the  midst  at  one  blow  the  dark  fiend,*  and  res- 
cued the  fair  one!"' 
Viking*  bequeathed  the  sword  to  Thorsten,  his  son;  and 
from  Thorsten 

Came  it  to  Frithiof ,an  heirloom.  When- 
e'er  unsheathed  in  the  mead-hall, 
I  Flashed  it  coruscant  as  lightning  or 
j    gleam  of  the  shimmering  North-light. 
Hammered  of  gold  was  the  hilt,  but  t  he  75 

Made  was  inscribed  with  rune-letters 
Mystic,  unknown  in  the  Northland,but 

known  full  well  at  the  Sun's  gates. 
Home   of  our  fathers  once,*  ere   the 

asas^had  hither  removed  them. 
Faintly  its  runes  were  showing,  when 

Peace  reposed  o'er  the  nation; 
But   when    Hilder11  her   sport   began. 
then  flashed  all  the  letters 
'MmilM  R^'d  as  the  comb  of  a  cock  when  fight-  80 
ing ;  destroyed  was  the  f oeman 


mm  i 

.  ..  -„  •  . 

few 


THE  DWARFS. 


*He  was  named  Harek.  son  of  Kroppenbog  of  India.  At  seven  years  his  head  was 
bald  and  his  skull  hard  as  steel.  Before  entering  the  king's  hall,  he  had  slain  the  two 
door-keepers  with  his  two-pronged  spear,  and  tossed  their  bodies  away.  He  was  consid- 
ered invincible. 

The  king  had  promised  his  daughter,  Hunvor,  and  a  dowry,  to  Viking,  as  prize  for 
the  subjugation  of  the  giant.  When  Harek  saw  Viking's  sword,  he  said:  "I  never  should 
have  fought  thee,  had  I  known  thou  hadst  Angurvadel  in  thy  hand!" 

Then  "Viking  hewed  Harek  across  the  skull  and  clove  him  down  all  his  length,  so 
that  the  sword  went  deep  into  the  earth,  even  up  to  the  hilt  thereof."— Saga  of  Thorsten 

'Viking  pirated  until  his  20th  year.— then  married  Hunvor.  One  of  their  nine  sous 
was  Thorsten.     The  lattei .  in  a  Viking  excursion,  vanquished  Jokul,  who  had  seized  the 

om  of  Sogne,  had  killed  the  king,  had  banished  his  heir.  Bele,  and  had  changed 
Belt's  beautiful  sister,  Ingeborg,  into  the  form  of  an  old  witch. 

Directed  by  her,  Thorsten  found  Bele.  re-instated  him  on  his  throne,  exchanged 
foster-brothers'  oaths  with  him,  banished  the  evil  spell  that  had  clouded  Ingeborg,  mar- 
ried the  fair  princess,  and  lived  with  her  at  Framnas,  where  Frithiof  was  born. 

principal  city  of  the  asas  was  Asgard.  between  the  Black  and  Caspian  seas. 
"Oden  having  united  under  his  banners  the  youth  of  the  neighboring  nations,  marched 
toward  the  west  and  north  of  Europe,  subduing  all  the  peoples  he  met  on  his  way,  and 
giving  them  to  one  or  another  of  his  sons  for  subjects  "—Norse  Mythology. 

tt  The  gods.     The  first  and  old«  st  of  the  asas  is  ( (den,  maker  of  heaven  and  earth. 

II  The  goddess  of  battle,— one  of  the  Valkyries 


64 


Meeting   in  slaughter's  night  this  blade  with  its  red- 

flaming  rune-marks; 
Widely  renowned  was  the  sword,  and  of  swords  was  the 

first  in  the  Northland. 

Next    to  the    sword    most    prized    was     an    arm-ring, 

widely  reputed, 
Forged  by  the  Vulcan  of  Northern  story,  the  limping 

smith   Vaulund.* 


VAULUND. 


Three  marks+  it  equaled  in  weight,  and   of  purest  gold      85 
it  was  fashioned. 


*Vaulund,  Vaulunder,  Velint,  Veleut,  Volund,  Volund.  Volundar,  or  Wayland,  »ke 
most  renowned  ancient  artisan  of  Finland,  — a  king's  son,  and  the  Vulcan  or  Daidalus  of 
the  North. 

"KingNidingur,"  so  runs  the  Icelandic  Saga,  "reigned  now  in  Jutland,  and  had  in 
his  train  that  excellent  smith  Velent,  whom  the  Vaeringar  (Sea-rangers)  called  Volund. 
He  was  so  celebrated  throughout  the  Northern  world  that  all  were  unanimous  in  placing 
him  at  the  head  of  his  craft,  and  to  denote  the  superior  excellence  of  any  production  of 
the  furnace,  it  became  usual  to  say  that  the  artist  must  have  been  a  Vauluudur  in  skill." 

Vaulund  was  small  of  stature,  strongly  built,  but  was  lame,  and  hence  was  called 
the  halting  or  limping  smith. 

Cf.  the  Greek  mythus  of  how  Vulcan,  who  made  the  thunderbolts  of  Zeus  and  Mt. 
Olympus,  was,  on  account  of  his  ugliness,  hated  by  his  mother.  Here,  who  took  him  by 
the  leg  and  threw  him  out  of  heaven  to  the  earth,  breaking  his  leg  and  rendering  him  a 
cripple.  +A  mark  of  gold  or  silver  equals  8  ounces. 

65 


Hereon  the  heavens   were    traced,    with  their   castles 

twelve  of  Immortals,* 
Signs  of  the  changing  months,  and  named  by  skalds 

the  Sun-houses. 
Alfhem+  was  pictured,  Frey's  castle;  this  was  the  sun 

new  appearing, 
Starting  once  more  to  surmount  heaven's  height  at  the 

season  of  Yule-tide. 
90      Soqvabak*  also  was  there,  in  whose  hall  sat  Oden  with 

Saga, 
Drinking  his  wine  from  a  golden  bowl,  which  bowl  is 

the  Ocean 
Tinted  with  gold  from  the  morning's  glow ;  and  Saga  is 

springtime 
Written  all  over  the  green-clad  fields,  with  blossoms  for 

rune-marks; 
Balder  was  likewise  seen  on  his  throne,  the  sun  of  mid- 
summer, 
95      Who  from  the  firmament  pours  down  riches, — the  im- 
age of  goodness ; 
Goodness   shines   ever   as   light,  whereas   the   evil   is 

darkness; 
Weary  the  sun  grows  with  rising  forever;  the  good  also 

languish, 
Dizzy  on  arduous  heights;  with  a  sigh  both  downward 

are  sinking 
E'en  to  the  shade-land,  to  Hel;ll     'tis  the  funeral  pyre 

of  good  Balder. 

*"The  twelve  immortals"  are  Thor,  Frey,  Balder,  Njord,  Brage,  Heimdal,  Hoder. 
Vidar,  Vale,  Uller,  Forsete  and  Loke.  Oden  is  not  included.  The  twelve  signs  of  the 
zodiac  were  named  from  the  palaces  of  the  Twelve  Immortals. 

+Literally,  "elf-home."  It  is  the  fairy-land  where  dwell  the  elves  of  light,  whose 
king  is  the  god  Frey. 

*The  dwelling  of  Saga,  goddess  of  story.  She  was  the  Clio  of  the  North.  She  is 
oden's  daughter,  and  relates  to  him  the  fortunes  of  men. 

IIThe  lower  world,  whose  goddess  is  Hela.  She  is  the  Proserpina  of  the  North,  and 
daughter  of  Loke,  the  Scandinavian  Satan. 

66 


ODEX  WITH  SAGA. 


100    Grlitner,*  the  Castle  of  Peace,  was  likewise  seen.  Met- 
ing justice. 

Sat  Forsete'1'  with  scales  in  hand,   o'er   the   autumn  as- 
sembly. 

These  and  many  more  scenes   were  engraved,   portray- 
ing the  warfare 

Waged  by  the  Light,  both  in  heaven  and  in  the  spirits 
of  mortals; — 

All  by  the  master's   hand   were   richly  carved  on  the 
arm-ring;* 
105    Crowned     a    rich    ruby    its    rim,    as    the    bright    snn 
crowneth  its  heaven. 

Long  had  the  bracelet  an  heirloom  been,   for  the  race 
traced  its  story. 

Though    by    the   mother's    side,    back  to  Vaulund,  re- 
garded its  founder. 

(  >nce,  however,  the  jewel  was  stolen  by  Sote,  the  rob-     . 
ber, 

Pirating    over    the   Northern  seas,  but  afterwards  seen 
not. 
110    Finally,  Sote,  'twas  said,  had  sailed  to  the  shore  of  far 
Britain, 

Buried  himself  alive,  with  his  ship  and  his  wealth,  in  a 
barrow; 

*The  dwelling  of  Forsete,— a  hall  of  gold.  +The  god  of  justice,  — son  of  Balder 

$On  the  opposite  page  is  reproduced  Prof.  Liljegreu's  conception  of  the  arm-ring  as 
a  Rune-calendar  carved  on  the  illustrious  bracelet. 

The  circle  of  the  ring  represents  the  circle  of  the  year,  which  the  old  Scandinavians 
reckoned  as  beginning  in  November.  Hence  this  month  is  placed  first  upon  the  ring 
Along  the  upper  border  are  engraved  the  Latin  names  of  the  12  months;  under  these  are 
the  1-'  signs  of  the  Zodiac,  iu  as  many  separate  circles,  set  at  equal  distances  in  a  fantas- 
tically carved  arabesque  of  antique  design. 

These  Zodiacal  signs  were  called  the  Sun-houses,  each  representing  one  of  the  cas- 
tles of  the  U  Immortals.     The  four  diamond-shaped  vignettes  picture  the  4  seasons. 

Along  the  extreme  lower  border  of  the  ring  aie  engraved  the  ancient  names  of  the 
mouths  in  Runic  letters. 

Above  these,  and  occupying  the  lower  third  of  the  ring,  the  waxing  and  waning  of 
tlie  moon  are  portrayed  by  light  and  shade;  and  the  figures  inserted  at  equal  intervals 
picture  events  pertaining  each  to  its  own  month. 

Above  this  line  is  a  row  of  7  runes  for  the  7  days  of  the  week,  represented  in  the 
same  order  for  all  the  days  of  the  year. 

The  middle  portion  of  the  ring  (above  the  runes)  is  divided  into  52  squares,  each 
representing  a  week,  and  containing  symbols  of  the  events  pertaining  to  its  own  time. 

68 


FRITHIOFS  ARM-RING. 
The  band  of  the  ring  is  here  broken  into  three  sections,  in  order  to  occupy  but  a 
single  page;  and  is  traced  from  left  to  right,  as  printed  lines,  and  in  the  order  of  the  num- 
bered strips. 


But  that  he  found  no  peace,  and  a  ghost  ever  haunted 

his  mound-grave. 
Thorsten  this  rumor  heard,   and  with  Bele  his  dragon 

ship  entered, 
Cleaving  the  foam-capped  waves,  and  steered  to  the 

barrow  of  Sote. 
115    Wide  as  a  temple-vault,  or   arch  of   a  palace  imbed- 
ded 
Deeply  in  gravel  and  green-grown  turf,  rose  the  sepul- 

cher  vaulted. 
Light  within  was  illuming  the  tomb.    Through  a  chink 

of  the  portal 
Peered  the  two  warriors  in;  and  there  the  Viking-ship, 

pitch-smeared, 
Stood  with  its  anchor  and  masts  and  yards;  while  high 

on  its  stern-post 
120    Sat  a  most  horrible  form  arrayed  in  a  fiery  mantle ! 

Grim  was  he  sitting,  and  scouring  a  sword-blade  spot- 
ted with  blood-stains, 
But  to  remove  them  prevailed  not;  and  all  the  gold  he 

had  plundered 
Round  him  was  lying  in  heaps,  while  circling  his  arm 

was  the  arm-ring. 
"March  we,"  breathed  Bele,  "down  thither,  and  combat 

bring  to  the  monster, — 
125    Two  'gainst  one  goblin  of  fire?"     But  quick  answered 

Thorsten,  half  angered: 
"One  against  one  was  our  fathers'  custom; — I  battle  best 

singly!" 
Long  was  it  then  contended,  which  one  should  provoke 

the  encounter, 

Trying  the  hazardous  deed;  but  Bele,  at  last,  took  his 

steel  helm, 

70 


Shaking  within  it  two  lots;  and  there,  by  the  shimmer  of 

starlight, 
Thorsten  saw  his  was  the  lot.     Then  swift,  with  one    13^ 

thrnst  of  his  steel-lance, 
Cleft  he  th)B  bolts  and  the  locks!     He  entered. — If  ever 

one  asked  him 
What  he  beheld  in  that  barrow*  deep, — he  replied  not, 

but  shuddered. 


THE  VIKING  SHIP  OF  GOKSTAD  (Restored). 

Bele  at  first  heard  a  lay, — it  was  like  the  strain  of  a  gob- 
lin; 

Then  came  a  clashing  sound,  like  the  clang  of  encoun- 
tering sword-blades! 

Lastly,  a  terrible  shriek!     Then  silence! — Out  hasten-    135 
ed  Thorsten, 

*A  vast  mound-grave.  The  spacious  arched-stone  tomb  of  the  Northmen  was 
usually  covered  with  an  earth-mound  upon  which  the  grave-stone  was  set.  Burial  while 
alive  was  not  an  infrequent  method  of  heroic  self-destruction,  since  it  defeated  natural 
death.  It  is  exemplified  thus  in  Romund  Gripson's  Saga:  "And  as  he  (Thrain )  was  now 
so  old  that  he  could  fight  no  more,  he  caused  himself,  while  yet  living,  to  be  placed  with- 
in a  barrow  with  much  goods." 

The  above  cut  represents  the  celebrated  Viking-ship  unmounded  at  Gokstad,  near 
Saudefjord^it  the  mouth  of  the  Christiania  fjord.  It  was  of  oak,  7S  ft.  long,  16  ft.  wide, 
had  16  oaraand  shields  a-side,  was  built  to  carry  120  warriors,  and  was  buried  in  blue  clay, 
which  is  atfcexcenent  timber  preserver. 

It  contained  the  bones  of  a  Northern  chieftain,  3  horses,  several  dogs,  and  a  par- 
tially decayed  silk  mantle;  and  showed  signs  of  having  been  plundered  for  gold,  weap- 
ons and  ornaments,  which  should  have  been  found  beside  the  occupant,  but  were  not. 
The  Norseman's  custom  of  burying  warriors  in  their  ships  which  they  covered  deep  with 
earth-mounds,  has  given  much  light  to  the  modern  student  of  antiquities. 

7i 


Palo  of  face,  confounded,  undone!  For  with  Death  he 
had  battled! 

Yet. bore  he  with  hirn  the  arm-ring!  Often  he  said:  "It 
is  dear  bought ; 

Once  in  my  life  have  I  trembled, — 'twas  when  I  recov- 
ered that  arm-ring!" 

Widely  renowned  was  the  jewel,  of  jewels  the  first  in 
the  Northland.. 

140    Lastly  Ellida,  the  d ragon-ship,  stood  as  a  family  treas- 
ure. 

Viking — they  say — when  returning  one  day  from  a  voy- 
age of  conquest, 

Close  by  his  native  shore  was  sailing,  when  lo!  on  a 
ship's  wreck, 

Rocking  and  careless,  appeared  a  man,  as  at  play  with 
the  sea-waves! 

Towering,  noble  of  form,  he  stood,  with  countenance 
open, — 
145    Joyous  but  mutable  too,  like  the  sea  that  sports  in  the 
sunshine. 

Blue  was  his  mantle,  and  golden  his  belt,bestudded  with 
corals ; 

White  was  his  beard  as  the  billows'  foam,  but  his  hair 
it  was  sea-green. 

Thither  steered  Viking  his  dragon,  the  destitute  man 
to  deliver, 

Rescued  the  shivering  seaman,  and  at  his  own  hearth 
entertained  him. 
150    But  when  bidden  to  rest  by  his  host,  then  smiled  he, 
replying: 

"Good  is  the  wind;  and  my  ship,  as  thou  seest,  is  far 
from  untrusty; 

7* 


Truly,  a  hundred  miles  seaward  I  hope  to  sail   in   the 
evening. 

Thanks  no  less  for  thy  bidding:  'tis  well  meant.  Would 

I  might  leave  thee 
Some  small  reminder  of  me!     But  my  wealth  lies  deep 

in  the  ocean; 


ELLIDA* 


Yet,  on  its  strand  perchance  thou  will  find  a  gift  in  the    155 

morning." 
Viking  next  day  sought  the  shore,  when  lo!  like  an 

eagle  of  ocean 
Swiftly  pursuing  its  prey,   moved  a  dragon-ship  into 

the  harbor. 


This  engraving  of  EUida,  copied  from  Stevens'  translation.  Stockholm,  1839,  is  the 
embodiment  of  the  saga  descriptions  and  drawings  of  the  celebrated  Bayeux  tapestry. 

The  beautiful  conception  of  a  dragon  ship  on  page  162  is  taken  from  the  Orkneymga 
Saga,  of  Joseph  Anderson,  Edinburgh,  1  - 

71 


No  man  appeared  thereon,  not  even  the  form  of  a  helms- 
man; 

Still  chose  the  rudder  its  tortuous  way  mid  rocks  seen 
and  unseen, 

As  by  a  spirit  quickened;    and  lo!  when  the  strand  it    160 
was  nearing, 

Quick  were  the  sails  self -reefed;   and,  touched  by  no 
hand  of  a  mortal. 

Sank  the  spontaneous  anchor,  and  drove  its  tooth  in  the 
sea-depths! 

Mute  stood  Viking,  and  gazed;  then  chanted  the  mur- 
muring billows: 

"Agir,*  the  rescued,  his  debt  ne'er  forgetting,  to  thee 
sends  the  dragon. "+ 

Kingly  to  see  was  the  gift,  and  the  oak-planks,  bowing    165 
and  massive. 

Not  as  in  others  were  joined,  but  seemed  to  have  grown 
fast  together. 

Dragon-like  over  the  wave  it  hovered,  its  lofty  head  pois- 
ing 

Proudly  above  the  stem,  and  its  throat  was  coruscant 
with  red  gold. 

Mottled  its  belly  with  blue  and  gold,  while  back  at  the 
rudder 

Curved  in  a  spiral  its  ponderous  tail,  with  silver-scales    170 
covered ; 

Black  were  its  wings,  and  bordered  with  red;  when  all 
were  expanded, 

*Or  Aegir,  the  god  of  the  Sea— the  Neptune  of  the  North— husband  of  Rana.  Agir 
feasts  all  the  gods  at  the  autumnal  equinox.  But  he  lacks  a  caldron  large  enough  tobrew 
ale  for  all.  So  Thor,  with  Tyr,  goes  to  Jotunheirn,  and  bears  off  the  great  mile-deep  brew- 
kettle  of  the  giant  Hymir,  slays  with  his  mallet  Hymir  and  the  giants  who  pursue  him. 
and  brings  the  kettle  to  Agir.  who  now  uses  it  at  all  his  banquets.  The  Giants'  country, 
Jotunheirn,  lies  among  the  mountains  to  the  east  of  the  Fjord  of  Sogne. 

+Dragon  (drake)  was  the  usual  name  given  to  the  ancient  Northern  war-ships,  as 
they  generally  had  the  dragon's  head;  they   were  often  gorgeously  painted  and  gilded. 

"La  figure  d'un  dragon  ou  d'un  autre  animal  fantastique,  qu'on  representait  sur 
la  proue,  les  avait  fait  nommer  'drakar,'  dragons;  la  peinture  et  la  dorure  etaient  em- 
ployees a  les  decorer."— Depping. 

75 


Then  vied  the  ship  with  the  whistling  tempest,  and  con- 
quered the  eagle! 

Shouldst  thou  behold  it  laden  with  warriors  armed,  thou 
wouldst  fancy, 

Floating,  a  palace   regal,  or  fortress  riding  the  ocean! 

Widely  renowned  was  the  ship,  and  of  ships  was  the    175 
first  in  the  Northland. 

These   received  Frithiof,    and  more,    as  heir  of  Thor- 

sten,   his   father. 
Scarce  in  the  North  was  an  heir  to  be  found  with  herit- 
age broader, 
Barring  a  king's  son  only, — since  kingly  might  is  the 

greatest. 
Though  not  of  monarch  a  son,   yet  kingly  indeed  was 

his  nature, 
Kindly  and  noble,  and  mild;  and  daily   his  fame  was    180 

extended. 
Champions  twelve  had  Frithiof.  gray-haired,  and  princes 

in  exploits, 
Comrades  of  Thorsten,  his  father,  steel-clad,  with  scars 

on  their  foreheads. 
Last  on  the  champions'  bench,  a  youth  of  the  same 

years  as  Frithiof 
Sat  like  a  rose  among  withered  leaves;  and  Bjorn  was 

the  youth  called, — * 
Glad  as  a  child,  but  staid  as  a  man,   and  wise  as  an     185 

old  man. 
Bjorn  had  grown  up  with  Frithiof:  together  their  blood 

they  had  mingled,+ 

*This  foster-brother  of  Frithiof  was  inseparably  connected  with  the  latter's  life  as 
friend,  companion-in-arms,  sympathizer,  and  adviser.  Their  only  battles  with  each 
other  were  fought  over  the  chess-board,  where  each  was  a  master. 

+Each  drank  the  other's  blood  from  a  wound  cut  in  the  arm  for  this  very  purpose.— 
a  ceremony  sanctifying  the  oath  of  inviolate  friendship  which  Frithiof  and  Bjorn  had 
taken.    This  was  a  frequent  custom  in  the  North.     Bele  and  Thorsten  also  exemplified  it. 

77 


True  foster-brothers  in  Northern   manner,  and  loyally 

swearing 
Faith  both  in  joy   and  in  need;  at    his   death   one   tin 

other  avenging. 
There,  in  the   midst  of  warriors   and  gnests  who  had 

come  to  the  grave-feast. 
Frithiof,  a  sorrowful   host,   his  eyes  overflowing  with     190 

tear-drops. 
Drank  to  his  father's  memory,  after  the  custom   ances- 
tral. 
Listened  to  minstrels  singing  in  thundering  drapa*  his 

glory : 
Then  to  his  father's  seat,  now  his.  approached  he.  and 

sat  down 
Oden  and   Frey  between. — the  station   of  Thor  up  in 

Valhall.+ 

*  A  drapa.  or  triumphal  song  to  a  departed  hero,  was  usually  sung  at  the  "grave 
feast"  which  the  succeeding  heir  held  to  his  father's  memory 

This  death-soug,  or  panegyric,  was  usually  much  less  dirge  like  than  laudatory  and 
triumphant,  since  death  was  a  triumph,  and  Valhalla  one  protracted  season  of  festivities 

H  As  was  also  Thor's  place  in  the  ancient  temple  of  Upsala  (founded  by  Frey,  A.  D. 
220),  where  the  statues  of  these  three  gods  were  worshiped,  and  near  which  their  three 
mounds  stand  to-day.     See  cut  "The  Mounds  of  the  Kings.''  Canto  XXIV. 


79 


Olatttn  Starttj. 


Frithiof's  life  is  lonely,  not  only  because  of  his  father's  death, 
but  also  because  of  the  absence  of  Ingeborg.  And  this  heart-deso- 
lation is  enhanced  since  the  visit  to  Framnas  of  the  lovely  Inge- 
borg  with  her  brothers  Helge  and  Halfdan.  There  Frithiof  had 
feasted  them  "more  magnificently  than  they  had  been  accustomed 
to,"  as  told  in  the  ancient  Saga;  Ingeborg  had  expressed  her  ad- 
miration of  Frithiof's  wonderful  arm-ring,  and  they  had  "talked 
long  together,"  and  wandered  through  the  fields.  Even  then  the 
brothers  began  to  suspect  the  love  of  the  devoted  pair.  Fnvy  took 
its  birth,  rapidly  waxing  stronger.  This  visit  became  the  grave 
of  peace  between  them. 

The  carrier-dove  sent  by  Frithiof  to  his  love  returns  not.  Anx- 
iety, restlessness,  loneliness,  despair,  seize  upon  him. 

Bjoru's  attempted  stimuli  fail  to  incite  him  to  interest  in  com- 
monplace things.  Loosing  Fllida's  sails,  he  seeks  the  brothers 
across  the  fjord  on  King  Bele's  mound. 

His  suit  for  Ingeborg's  hand  is  disdainfully  repulsed.  In  wrath 
he  cleaves  King  Helge's  shield  with  his  sword,  Angurvadel,  and 
sails  back  over  the  blue  wave  to  Framnas. 

The  certainty  of  ill  is  far  less  annoying  than  the  uncertainty  of 
good.  No  anguish  is  so  great  as  that  of  suspense.  Death  arrived 
is  better  than  Death  coming,  for  there  is  nothing  more  to  fear.  The 
fiend  has  played  his  ace.  And  so,  when  heroic  manhood  is  publicly 
scorned  and  outraged  by  jealous  regal  inferiority,  some  compre- 
hended relation  is  at  least  established;  and  we  can  readily  under- 
stand the  ancient  Chronicle's  paradoxical  declaration  that  "when 
Frithiof  returned  home  his  gladness  of  mind  returned  unto  him." 


'  <  3   «-\, 


80 


tljtof  s  (EmirlBbtp. 

IDE  echoes  the  music  in  Frithiot  s  hall;  1 

^l     His  ancestors'  glory  the  skalds*  recall; 
'^    But  song  rejoices 
y.  -*  Not  Frith iof;  nor  hears  he  the  singers'  voices. 


< )nce  more  the  earth  is  enrobed  in  green,  2 

And  dragons  now  swimming  the  seas  are  seen. 
In  forests  dreaming,  ,  .  __  ,       _ 

The  hero-son  heeds  but  the  moon's  pale  beaming, 

*The  skalds  (or  bards),  enlivened  the  feasts  of  warriors  with  songs  or  recitals  of 
the  deeds  of  heroes.  These  compositions  or  poems  (sagas)  vere  rendered  with  accom- 
paniment of  the  harp,  and  contained  much  history  and  tradition.  Iceland,  once  a  part  of 
Scandinavia,  is  the  home  of  the  skald. 

"A  regular  succession  of  this  order  of  men  was  perpetuated,  and  a  list  of  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty  in  number,  of  those  who  were  most  distinguished  in  the  three  Northern 
kingdoms,  from  the  reign  of  Ragnar  Lodbrok  to  Valdemar  II.  is  still  preserved  in  the 
Icelandic  language;  among  whom  were  several  crowned  heads.  '  —  '.Vm. aton 

8i 


Yei  lately  so  favored  was  he,  and  so  glad, 

For  merry  king  Halfdan  as  guest  he  bade, 

(And  Helge  cheerless), 

Who  with  them  brought  Ingeborg,  sister  peeiless. 

He  sat  by  her  side,  and  he  pressed  her  hand, 
And  oft  felt  the  pressure  returned  so  bland, 
And  gazed  enraptured 
On  features  so  rare  that  his  heart  had  captured. 

Together  they  spoke  of  the  joyous  days 
When  dews  yet  mirrored  life's  morning  rays, — 
Of 'childhood  hours, 
The  great  soul's  garden  of  memory-flowers. 

She  greeted  him  gladly,  from  vale  and  park, 
Where  names*  had  grown  in  the  birchen  bark, — 
Where  oak-trees  flourished 
On  mounds  which  the  ashes  of  heroes  nourished. 

"  It  is  not  so  sweet  in  the  king's  court  old, 
For  Halfdan  is  childish,  and  Helge  cold. 
My  royal  brothers 
Hear  only  the  praises  and  prayers  of  others. 

"  And  none  have  I," — here  she  blushed  a  rose — 

"On  whom  a  sorrow  I  may  repose; 

The  regal  palace, 

How  stifling  it  seems,  to  old  Hilding's  valleys! 


*Perhaps  his  own  and  Iugeborg's,  which  he  himself  had  carved. 
"But  Frithiof,  in  his  forest  search, 
An  "I"  and  "F"  carves  on  the  birch ; 
Kach  rune  grows  to  the  other  near  it 
As  to  its  mate  a  loving  spirit."— Canto  i. 
This  beautiful  silvery-white  tree,  indigenous  to  so  vast  a  portion  of  the  North,  es- 
pecially in  mountainous  regions,  often   forms   large  forests  by  itself,  and  attains  the 
height  of  sixty  to  seventy  feet. 

82 


KNIT  EKWA1  1 

So  sat  they  whispering  all  the  day, 

And  whispered  they  yet  in  the  evening  gray. 

Like  winds  nocturnal. 

That  murmur  each  other  in  lindens  vernal. 

Canto  IV,   v.    ii,   p.   S4.  ) 


^     "  The  beautiful  doves  that  we  tamed  and  fed, 
By  falcous  terrified,  now  are  fled-, 
A  pair  forsaken 
Remains;  one  of  these  shall  by  thee  be  taken! 

10  "  For  back  to  the  palace  will  fly  thy  dove, — 
Will  long,  like  another,  to  meet  her  love; 
Bind  neath  her  pinion 
A  letter  secure  from  the  eye's  dominion!" 


MODERN  BALHOLM.* 

11    So  sat  they  whispering  all  the  day, 

And  whispered  they  yet  in  the  evening  gray. 

Like  winds  nocturnal 

That  murmur  each  other  in  lindens  vernal. 


12    But  now  she  is  gone,  and  his  joyous  mood 
Has  vanished  with  her;  the  youthful  blood 
His  cheek  is  dyeing; 
He  burns  in  silence,  forever  sighing. 

*Site  of  the  royal  palace,— home  of  Ingeborg,  Helge  aud  Halfdau,  — and  identical  with 
the  aucitut  Syrstraud.  g  • 


His  sorrowful  plaint  by  the  dove  he  sent,  13 

That  glad  to  her  queen  with  the  message  went ; 

But  ah !     Regaining 

Her  home,  came  not  back. — by  her  mate  remaining. 


Bjorn's  heart  was  by  Frithiof  s  demeanor  stung;  14 

He  said:     "  What  afflicteth  our  eagle  young? 

Can  it  betoken 

A  transfixed  breast  or  a  pinion  broken? 

"  What  wouldst  thou,  friend?    Have  we  not,  indeed,  15 

Both  yellow  bacon  and  dark-brown  mead. 

And  minstrels*  singing. 

Who  ceaseless  songs  to  our  ears  are  bringing? 

"Moreover  the  pacers  now  stamp  their  stalls;  16 

For  prey,  for  prey,  the  wild  falcon  calls. 

But  Frithiof  only 

In  cloud-realms  hunteth,  consumed  and  lonely. 

"  Ellida  lies  troubled  upon  the  main.  17 

And  restlessly  tugs  at  her  cable  chain.* 

( )  ship,  be  resting! 

For  Frithiof  is  peaceful,  no  foe  molesting. 


*"These  songs  (of  the  skalds)  were  propagated  from  one  reciter  to  another;  and 

there  was  no  public  solemnity  in  which  they  were  not  sung  or  chanted Harald 

Harfagra  placed  the  skalds  at  his  feasts  above  all  the  other  officers  of  his  court. 

The  princes  never  set  out  on  any  considerable  expedition  without  some  of  them  in 
their  train."  — MALLET. 

+Human  attributes  are  constantly  assigned  to  Ellida  in  the  Saga. 

85 


18  uThe  natural  death, — it  is  death  indeed! 
Like  Oden,  will  I  by  mine  own  spear  bleed;* 
That  cannot  cheat  us, 

And  blue-white  Hela  will  welcome  greet  us." 

19  Then  quickly  set  Frithiof  his  dragon  free, 
And  swelled  the  sail  on  the  seething  sea. 
Straight  o'er  the  water 

He  sought  the  two  brothers  of  Bele's  daughter. 

20  That  day  they  were  seated  on  Bele's  grave;* 
They  heard  the  people,  and  judgment  gave; 
Them  Frithiof  greeted 

In  accents  by  hills  and  by  dales  repeated: 

21  "Ye  kings,  by  fair  Ingeborg  were  I  blest! 
Of  you  her  hand  I  to-day  request; 

And  this  alliance 

With  Bele's  own  will  was  in  full  compliance. 

22  "He  placed  us  together  neath  Hilding's  care, 
Like  two  young  trees  that  the  same  crown  wear, 
Whose  tops  combining 

With  band  all  golden  was  Freya  twining. 

23  "My  father  was  neither  an  earl  nor  king, 

Yet  his  name  will  live  while  the  skalds  shall  sing; 

And  tombs  high-mounded 

The  rune-carved  fame  of  my  race  have  sounded. 

*"Oden  retired  into  Sweden,  where,  perceiving  his  end  to  draw  near,  he  gave  him- 
self nine  wounds  in  the  form  of  a  circle  with  the  point  of  a  lance,  and  many  other  cuts  in 
his  skin  with  his  sword.  Ashe  was  dying,  he  declared  he  was  going  back  to  Asgard  to 
take  his  seat  among  the  gods,  where  he  would  receive  with  great  honors  all  who  should 
die  bravely  with  their  swords  in  their  hands."— Anderson. 

+The  mounds  or  cairns  of  kings  or  heroes  were  the  usual  Assembly-places  of  the 
Norsemen,  since  the  elevated  position  of  the  judge  at  the  summit  made  him  visible  to  all. 
ThusGustavus  Vasa  addressed  the  Dalcarlians  from  the  top  of  Frey's  mound  atold  Cpsala, 

86 


U  'GUST  M  VLMSTROM 


That  day  they  were  seated  by  Bele's  grave; 
Thej'  heard  the  people,  and  judgment  gave; 
Them    Frithiof  greeted 
In  accents  by  hills  and  by  dales  repeated: 

(Canto  IV,  v.   20,  p.  S6. 


"'Twere  easy  a  kingdom  and  lands  to  gain,  24 

But  fain  in  my  homeland  would  I  remain. 

Here,  from  the  foeman 

I  shield  both  the  king's  hall  and  cut  of  yeoman. 

"We  now  are  standing  on  Bele's  tomb;  25 

He  hears  each  word  from  his  hidden  room; 

My  cause  he  pleadeth 

Entombed;  ponder  well  while  he  intercedeth!" 

Then  Helge  uprose,  and  began  with  scorn:  26 

"Our  sister  is  not  for  the  peasant-born; 

For  Valhall's  daughter 

Kings  only  may  vie,  nor  should  swain  have  sought  her! 

"Boast  on  that  the  Xorth  holds  thee  greatest  with  swords;  -J7 

Win  men  by  thy  valor;  win  women  by  words! 

But  blood  of  Oden* 

I  yield  not  as  prize  to  presumption  sudden. 

"My  kingdom's  protection  thou  needst  not  plan;  28 

I  safeguard  it  well;  wouldst  thou  be  my  man,+ 

A  meek  position 

Among  my  servants  suits  thy  condition!'' 

"Well,  scarcely  thy  man!"  was  the  keen  reply,  29 

"A  man  for  myself,  like  my  sire,  am  I! 

Fly  forth!     Forsake  thou 

Thy  sheath,  Angurvadel,  to  vengeance  wake  thou!" 

*King  Bele  claimed  Oden  as  his  ancestor,— to  which  claim  of  Helge  both  Hilding,  in 
Canto  XII,  and  Frithiof,  in  Canto  XIV,  sarcastically  allude  as  ill  comporting  with  Helge's 
ungodly  deeds. 

+The  term  is  most  insulting.  Frithiof  himself,  though  not  claiming  regal  birth,  yet 
had  twelve  "men,"  or  champions,  dwelling  at  his  court,  attending  him  on  all  important 
occasions,  and  subject  to  his  minutest  commands.  They  were  his  inherited  yet  willing 
str\  ants. 

87 


FRITHIOF  CLEAVES  HELGES  SHIELD. 


In  sunlight  flashes  the  blade  steel-blue, 
Whose  runes  now  burn  with  a  blood-red  hue: 
"  Thou,  weapon  loyal, 
At  least  art  descended  from  peerage  royal. 


30 


"And  stood  I  not  o'er  the  peaceful  grave, 

No  power,  O  king,  could  thy  dark  life  save! 

Yet  I  will  teach  thee 

To  venture  not  where  my  sword  may  reach  thee!  " 


31 


He  said,  and  severed  at  one  stroke  now 

The  king's  gold-shield  that  bedecked  a  bough. 

Its  halves  asunder 

Fell  over  the  tomb,  and  resounded  under! 


32 


"Well  wrought,  my  sword !  Lie  thou  still,  and  dream    33 

Of  loftier  deeds;  hide  till  then  the  gleam 

Of  rune-flames  burning!  — 

Now  o'er  the  dark  blue  be  we  home  returning." 


8c 


(Eanto  iFiftlj. 


From  a  scene  that  now  promises  storms  and  turbulency,  the 
poet  suddenly  transports  us  to  fields  of  undisturbed  repose. 

King:  Ring,  the  aged  monarch  of  a  wealthy  neighboring  province 
of  Norway,  to  the  west  of  Christiania  fjord,  was  a  lover  of  peace,  de- 
voted to  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  his  people,  seeking  war  never 
for  its  own  sake,  yet  a  brave  warrior  in  the  time  of  strife,  and  a  man 
of  admirable  character.  He  had  for  some  years  mourned  the  loss 
of  Alfhild,  his  queen.  He  had  been  a  friend  of  King  Bele.  His 
courtiers  had  extolled  the  worth,  beauty  and  intellectuality  of  Inge- 
borg,  and  taught  King  Ring  to  regard  her  as  a  suitable  prospective 
consort  for  his  throne.  "For,"  he  said,  "though  she  is  still  young, 
if  she  should  choose  to  be  a  kind  mother  to  my  orphan  children,  I 
will  vow  to  love  and  honor  her  as  I  did  the  departed  Queen." 

With  costly  gifts  his  messengers  bear  his  suit  to  King  Helge's 
court.  Helge  consults  the  tokens.  The  suit  is  repulsed.  Even 
Halfdan  ridicules  the  "grey-beard."  The  infuriated  messengers 
recite  the  refusal  and  insult  to  King  Ring,  who  at  once  indignantly 
proceeds  to  chastise  such  impertinence,  and  compel  the  concession 
which  he  has  been  denied. 

Against  the  onslaught  of  King  Ring's  mighty  army,  as  well  as 
the  probability  of  Frithiof's  intrusion,  Iugeborg  is  placed  with  her 
maids  in  the  temple  of  Balder,  which  is  secure  against  hostile  inva- 
sion; and  thus  she  sits  in  loneliness  on  the  dais,  embroidering  in 
silk  and  gold,  while  her  tears  descend  as  copiously  as  the  dews  of 
summer  nights. 


9" 


2CiU0  Sing. 

iSvING  RING  pushed  his  gold-stool  back  from  the  board.    ] 

When  each  defender 
And  skald  uprose  to  his  royal  word. 

By  Northmen  heard, 
As  learned  as  Mimer  *  as  Balder  tender. 


His  land+  seems  a  grove  for  the  gods'  repose  ;  -2 

Its  greenswards  never 
Are  marred  by  the  march  of  invading  foes  ; 

Its  verdure  grows 
Protected,  and  roses  are  blooming  ever. 

*The  wisest  of  all  men,  — the  Solomon  of  the  Norseman's  mythology. 

The  fountain  of  wit  and  wisdom,  kept  by  Mimer.  is  situated  under  one  of  the  threr- 
roots  of  the  great  sacred  ash-trce,  Yggdrasil,  the  tree  of  life. 

+  King  Ring  ruled  over  Ringarike,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Fjord  of  Christiania.     The 
ancient  orthography  "Hring"  is  rationally  abandoned  by  Bishop  Teguer. 

91 


Here  justice  unswerving  sits  throned  alone, 

With  mild  controlling; 
And  Peace  each  year  pays  the  debt  her  own, 

While  golden  strown 
Lie  sunlit,  ripening  grain-fields  rolling. 


With  swarthy  breasts,  and  with  snowy  wings, 

Come  ships  of  treasure 
From  lands  a  hundred,  and  each  bark  brings 

A  myriad  things 
So  valued  that  riches  alone  can  measure. 


J^> 


Here  Peace  and  Freedom  united  dwell, 

As  one  rejoicing  ; 
Each  loveth  his  country's  father*  well, 

While  free  words  swell 
In  open  Council,  frank  judgment  voicing. 


*King  Ring.     "In  vain  might  our  poet  have  referred  to  his  legendary  archives  inr  so 
illustrious  an  example  of  paternal  rule  and  enlightened  polity."— Strong. 

92 


For  thirty  winters  his  reign  had  sought  6 

The  North's  fruition  ; 
None  home  returned  to  a  joyless  cot  ; — 

But  evening  brought 
Ring's  name  to  Oden  in  each  petition. 

And  the  king  moved  his  gold-stool  from  the  board,  1 

When  all  in  gladness 
Arose  to  attend  to  the  words  outpoured 

Of  North-famed  lord  ; 
For  deeply  he  sighed,  as  he  spoke  with  sadness  : 

"  In  Folkvang  castle*  now  sits  my  queen, 

Above  the  azure  ; 
But  her  grave  by  the  brooklet  is  clad  in  green, 

While  round  the  scene 
Sweet  flowers  exhale  their  ethereal  treasure. 

"Grace  of  my  throne,  queen  so  good,  so  fair,— 

Breathes  not  another  ; 
With  the  gods  she  Valhalla's  rewards  doth  share; 

But  now  the  prayer 
Of  my  nation  and  children  is  for  a  mother. 

"King  Bele,  who  oftentimes  sought  my  hall  10 

Witli  summer  breeze-. 
Hatli  left  a  daughter, — my  choice  of  all, — 

A-  lily  small, 
With  cheeks  where  the  crimsoning  morn-tint  pleases. 

*Thedwelliug  of  Freya,  and  the  Paradise  of  good  and  beautiful  women  afterdeath. 
"Folkvang  'tis  night 
Where  Freya  doth  rule 
( )  er  seats  in  the  hall; 
i  >f  heroes  who  fall 
Half  takes  she  each  day, 
One  half  Oden  hath." 

—The  Younger  Edda 
93 


QUEEN  ALFHILD'S  GRAVE. 


"She  is  young  ;  and  a  maiden  young,  I  know,  n 

Would  fain  pluck  flowers  ; 
My  flowering  is  o'er,  and  the  winters  strow 

E'en  now  their  snow 
About  my  forehead  in  flaky  showers. 

"But  could  she  to  a  white-haired  man  sincere  12 

Affection  render, 
Receiving  his  motherless  children  dear, 

As  mother  near, 
Then  Autumn  to  Springtime  his  throne  would  tender. 

"  Take  gold  from  the  vaults,  and  take  jewels  rare  13 

From  oaken  presses; 
And  follow,  ye  skalds,  with  the  harp's  soft  air, 

To  woo  the  fair; 
For  courtship  and  pleasure  the  song-god*  blesses." 

Then  out  sped  the  youths  in  a  noiseful  throng,  14 

With  gold  and  prayers. 
And  the  minstrels  followed  in  escort  long. 

With  hero-song. 
The  king's  word  bearing  to  Bele's  heirs. 

For  days  they  feasted,  they  drank  for  three;*  15 

On  the  fourth  morning, 
What  Helge's  response  to  their  suit  would  be. 

They  came  to  see, — 
For  homeward  to-day  must  they  be  returning. 

*Brage.  Although  compulsory  cession  of  sisters,  daughters  or  wives  to  conquering 
invaders  was  equivalent  to  voluntary  cession,  and  legally  subject  to  the  victor's  dictation. 
King  Ring,  always  pacifically  disposed,  preferred  the  latter  mode  of  acquisition. 

As  the  author  of  Saga  Time  has  observed  of  the  women  of  this  period,  their  prefer- 
ences were  rarely  consulted;  and  perhaps  the  seemingly  unnecessary  offering  of  jewels, 
songs  and  prayers,  as  auxiliaries  to  his  suit,  whose  voluntary  acceptance  was  thus  made 
possible,  must  be  urged  in  extenuation  of  Ring's  subsequently  inexorable  demand. 

+Etiquette  demanded  such  delay.  "The  old  Northern  custom  prevented  either  host 
or  guest  from  speaking  of  the  occasion  for  the  latter's  visit,  till  he  had  freely  partaken 
the  rights  of  hospitality."— Stevens.  95 


16  King  Helge  then  offered  both  hawk  and  steed 

In  green-clad  foresl ; 
Inquired  both  of  vala*  and  priest  indeed' 

The  Qorn-decreed 
Response  for  his  sister,  of  maids  the  rarest. 

17  But  priest  and  vala  consent  withheld, 

As  did  each  token; 
King  Helge,  whose  fear  at  the  signs  now  swelled, 

Ring's  suit  repelled, — 
For  ne'er  may  gods'  precepts  by  men  by  broken. 

18  But  merry  King  Halfdan  he  laughed  and  said: 

"  The  feast  is  over! 
King  Gray-beard  himself  should  have  ridden  ahead; 

Glad  I'd  have  led 
To  saddle  the  honorable  old-man  lover!" 

19  Indignant,  the  messengers  moved  away, 

And  told  the  story 
Of  Helge's  slight  to  their  monarch  gray. — 

Who  then  did  say: 
•"King  Gray-beard  swift  will  avenge  his  glory!" 

20  Then  smote  he  his  war-shield  that  hung  on  a  bough 

Of  linden  quaking; 
And  forth  every  dragon  was  swimming  now. 

With  blood-red  prow. 
And  helmet-plumes  in  the  wind  were  shaking. 

*Sylii!  or  prophetess.  These  Northern  priestesses  were  considered  holy,  and  their 
dicta  were  sought  and  revered  as  those  of  the  Southern  oracles. 

The  Voluspa,  first  chant  of  the  Elder  Edda,  and  put  in  the  mouth  of  the  Vala,  is  the 
Tir^t  recorded  word  of  the  divining  woman  of  the  North.  The  ancient  Germans  and 
Italians   had   similar   prophetesses.      Horace   applies   the   term   Folia    to   the   latter."  — 

S  11   VKNS. 

^Striking  the  war-shield  as  a  summons,  is  also  alluded  to  by  Ossian  :  "The  King 
took  his  deathful  spear,  and  struck  the  deeply  sounding  shield,— his  shield  that  hung  high 
in  night,  the  dismal  sign  of  war.' — Temoka.  B.  VII. 

96 


They  quickly  to  Helge  the  tidings  bear, 

Who  answers,  cheerless: 
"King  Ring  is  mighty,  and  fierce  his  war! 

Neath  Balder's  care, 
My  sister  shall  rest  in  his  temple,  fearless." 


21 


BALDER'S  TEMPLE. 

There  sitteth  the  loving  one,  filled  with  woe, 

In  halls  all  stilly: 
With  silk  and  with  gold  does  she  constant  sew, 

While  tears  o"erflow 
Her  bosom,  like  dews  that  surcharge  the  lily. 


22 


97 


(Eantn  ii>txtlj. 


It  is  humiliating  to  be  obliged  to  beg  a  favor  of  one  we  have 
scorned.  But  Helge  is  alarmed  at  the  menace  of  the  mighty  army 
of  angered  King  Ring,  and  sorely  needs  Frithiof  and  his  champions 
—the  most  potent  warriors  of  the  nation ;  hence  he  commissions  old 
Hilding,  Frithiof's  foster-father,  to  intercede  for  the  assistance 
which  he  himself  dares  not  ask. 

Hilding  finds  Frithiof  with  Bjorn  over  the  chess-board,  and  so 
oblivious  to  all  surroundings  as  almost  to  disregard  even  the  aged 
ambassador's  presence.  His  replies  to  Hilding  are  the  ambiguous 
fragmentary  utterances  applied  to  his  game  with  Bjorn,  framed  so 
ingeniously  as  to  have  a  double  meaning. 

The  awakening  indignation  of  the  old  foster-father  at  this  apa- 
thetic reception  would  almost  yield  a  presumption  that  he  was  un- 
familiar with  the  powers  of  chess,  since  in  this  age  a  visitor  would 
perhaps  be  achieving  something  to  elicit  an  ambiguous  or  even 
conscious  vocal  response  from  a  chess-player  in  active  operation ! 

However,  Frithiof  finally  arises,  takes  old  Hilding's  hand  in  his 
own,  and  earnestly  informs  him  that  no  help  can  come  to  the  kings 
from  him  they  have  disdained  ;  and  Hilding  cannot  censure  him ;  but 
prays  Oden  may  direct  all  things  for  the  best,  and  takes  his 
departure. 


9s 


Jflrtttjurf  inlays   OI^sjs. 

JORN  and  Frithiof,  mutely  seated, 
O'er  a  chess-board  rare  competed;* 
Brilliant  squares  defined  each  other. 
Gold  and  silver  fair  to  set\f 


*t)<j 


Then  came  Hilding:  "Sit,  I  pray  thee; 
On  the  high-seat  here  delay  thee! 
Drain  thy  horn,  kind  foster-father, 
Till  our  contest  ended  be." 


*The  history  of  chess  reaches  so  far  into  the  past  that  its  origin  is  disputed.  It  is 
certain  that  it  was  played  in  Hindoostan  5000  years  ago,  and  traces  of  its  Asiatic  origin 
are  manifest  in  its  nomenclature.  Particularly  in  the  Sanscrit  are  found  some  terms  still 
connected  with  chess.  In  the  eighth  century  the  Arabs  introduced  it  into  Spain  and 
other  countries  of  Western  Europe. 

It  was  played  in  England  prior  to  the  Norman  conquest.  During  all  these  centuries 
the  game  appears  to  have  sustained  no  essential  modification;  and  no  other  game  ap- 
proaches it  in  possibilities  of  skill,  prevision  and  combination. 

It  is  often  referred  to  in  the  Sagas.  The  old  Norsemen  were  strong  players. 

+Chess-boards  of  great  value  often  adorned  the  temples  of  the  gods.  Some  have 
been  found  in  the  ancient  cairns  of  Russia. 

The  chess-playing  automatons  exhibited  as  curious  and  wonderful  pieces  of  mech- 
anism, and  usually  supposed  to  be  modern  inventions,  were  mentioned  in  the  Kigel  saga 
of  ancient  Iceland. 

99 


Hilding  spoke:  "I  bring  thee  greeting 
From  King  Bele's  sons  entreating; 
Needs  the  land  a  brave  defender, 
Lies  in  thee  our  nation's  hope." 

Frithiof  said:  "A  hostile  stranger, 
Bjorn,  now  puts  the  king  in  danger.* 
Save  him  by  a  pawn's  surrender, — 
Pawns+  were  made  for  giving  up." 

>  "Frithiof,  vex  the  kings  no  longer! 

Soon  the  eaglets  will  grow  stronger; 
Though  King  Ring  could  them  o'erpower, 
Yet  their  strength  to  thine  is  great." 

3  "Bjorn,  my  castle*  thou  assailest, 

But  in  thy  design  thou  failest; 
Scarcely  canst  thou  take  the  tower,5 
Its  defense  is  consummate!" 

7  "Ingeborg  in  Balder's  keeping 
Wears  away  the  days  in  weeping; 
Cannot  she  to  battle  stir  thee," — 
Mourning  maid  with  eyes  of  blue'""' 

8  "Vainly  thou  my  queenH  pursuest, 
That  I  e'er  have  loved  the  truest; 
Pieced  of  all  the  game  most  worthy, 
Her  I  save,  whate'er  ensue." 

-e  words  are  applied  to  the  game;  but  they  also  apply  to  Riug  as  the  "stranger," 
and  t>>  Helge  as  the  "king." 

tThe  Swedish,  word  "honde"  means  a  peasant,  and  also  a  pawn,— the  smallest  piece 
on  the  chess-board.     Frithiof  sarcastically  applies  the  term  to  himself, 
piece  next  to  the  queen  in  power. 
$The  castle;  among  chess-players,  the  term  "rook"  is  usually  empl 
H'fhe  most  powerful  piece  on  the  board.     Frithiof  here  applies  the   term  also  tc 
Ingeborg. 

Iff  he  Swedish  substantive  also  means  a  child,  referring  to  Ingeborg. 

lOO 


jFritliinf  JJlaya  GLtjPSS. 

Shaws  Translation  *     ~V>*nr  *vS  CXl&XU  Sr*o**<+- 


lliitrr. 


{Jiatto 


seat-ed.  O'er  theirchess-board  rare  coru-pe-ted.  Brilliant  squares  de-fined  each 


other.     Gold  and  sil  -  ver.       fair      to     see      Then  came  Hilding;      "Sit.       1 


pray  thee'  On  the   high   seat  here       de-lay   thee:  Drain   the   horn,  kind  foster 


Frithiof,  is  no  answer  given? 
Is  thy  foster-father  driven 
Homeward,  without  word  or  token, 
Ere  thy  child's  play  ended  be? 


10 


Quickly  then  rose  Frithiof,  laying 
Hilding's  hand  in  his,  and  saying: 
"Father,  I  my  word  have  spoken, 
Thou  hast  heard  my  soul's  decree. 


11 


'■Ride  to  Bele's  sons,  and  teach  them 
From  the  scorned  no  help  will  reach  them; 
Me  to  them  no  duties  fetter, 
Ne'er  will  I  their  servant  play." 


12 


"Well,  in  thine  own  course  abide  thee; 
For  thy  wrath  I  cannot  chide  thee; 
Oden  guide  us  for  the  better!" 
Hilding  said,  and  took  his  way. 


AUGUST    M\[.M<TKi' 

Frithiof,  is  no  answer  given  ? 
Is  thy  foster-father  driven 
Homeward,   without  word  or  token, 
Ere  thy  child's   play  ended  he? 

(Canto  VI,  v.  9,  p.    102.) 


(Canto  ^wtttlj. 


Hilding,  in  stanza  7  of  the  last  canto,  revealed  to  Frithiof  that 
Injreborg  had  been  placed  in  Balder's  temple  for  safety  against  the 
onslaught  of  King  Ring.  Eight  of  her  maidens  attend  her  in  her 
new  asylum.  The  temple  lies  across  the  Fjord  from  Framnas. 
Frithiof  determines  to  visit  the  object  of  his  adoration.  Solilo- 
quizing, and  restless  as  the  waves  over  which  Ellida  is  to  bear  him, 
he  awaits  the  shadow  of  kindly  Night's  overspreading  pinions, 
writing  the  name  of  Ingeborg  in  the  sand  with  his  sword,  and 
watching  the  tediously  descending  golden  shield  finally  sink  be- 
neath the  Western  wave.  Then  in  the  grateful  darkness,  accom- 
panied (as  on  all  important  occasions)  by  Bjorn  and  others  of  his 
twelve  champions,  to  guard  his  movements  and  render  him  service 
if  needed,  he  sets  sail  for  the  white  god's  temple.  There  Frithiof 
and  Ingeborg,  kneeling  before  the  image  of  the  god,  offer  upon  the 
shrine  the  wealth  of  their  love,  believing  that  no  altar-incense  call 
be  more  acceptable  to  the  deity  than  such  heaven-born  offering. 
Here  the  most  fervent,  rapturous  and  extravagant  youthful  affection 
is  set  forth  in  imagery  as  pure  as  the  scintillations  of  Northern 
stars,  as  varied  as  the  iridescence  of  the  Northern  aurora,  as  sweet 
as  the  evening  fragrance  of  Southern  breezes.  These  delightful 
nocturnal  visits  seem  to  have  been  more  than  once  repeated,  and  the 
ancient  Saga  declares  that  "he  betook  himself  thither  each  day 
also;"  and  it  was  this  "profanation  of  the  temple"  that  raised 
Helge's  wrath,  when  he  learned  of  it,  to  the  highest  pitch  of  inten- 
sity ;  for  he  had  not  believed  Frithiof  to  be  rash  enough  to  do  such 
sacrilege  as  to  meet  Ingeborg  in  the  sacred  temple  of  Balder. 


Jfirttljiflfs   Hjappitttss. 


JiVlNGr  BELE'S  sons  may  seek  defenders, 
From  dale  to  dale  for  arms  may  rove; 
My  sword  to  them  no  service  renders, 
My  field,  my  world,  is  Balder's  grove. 
No  wrath  of  kings  nor  earthly  sadness 

Will  win  from  me  one  backward  glance; 
But  there  I  drink  the  gods'  own  gladness, 
When  Ingeborg  our  cup  enchants. 

T05 


As  long  as  evening  sun-rays,  straying, 

With  purple  hues  the  blossoms  vest, 
Like  crimson-tinted  gauze  o'erlaying 

The  flower-world  of  my  lady's  breast, 
So  long  upon  the  strand  I  wander, 

And  with  eternal  longing  stirred, 
I  sigh  her  dear  name  as  I  ponder, 

In  sand  I  write  it  with  my  sword. 


DAY. 

3  How  weary  drag  the  tedious  hours! 

Why,  Delling's  son,*  dost  thou  delay? 
Hast  not  beheld  both  mount  and  bowers, 

The  sea  and  islands,  ere  to-day? 
In  Western  hall  dwells  there  no  maiden 

Who  has  awaited  thee  for  long, — 
Who  to  thy  breast  would  fly,  love-laden, 

Whose  voice  speaks  love  in  every  song? 

*Nott  (Night)  was  the  daughter  of  the  evil  giant  N6rvi,  who  dwelt  in  Jotunheira 
Her  last  husband  was  Delling  (Dawn),  of  the  race  of  asas  (gods).    Their  son  was  Dagr 
(Day),  who  was  light  and  fair  as  his  father.     Oden  gave  Dagr  a  horse  of  shining  maue 
<Skinfaxe),  which  "fills  both  air  and  earth  with  the  shining  ot  his  mane." 
"And  Delling's  son 
Drove  forth  his  steed 
With  stones  so  precious 
Rich  surrounded; 
The  streaming  mane 
Illumed  all  Manhem  (the  earth), 
And  Dvalin's  sport  (the  sun) 
Pulled  steed  and  car." 

Saemdnd's  Edda. 


Delling's  son  =  the  day. 


1 06 


At  last,  thy  toilsome  journey  over,  4 

Thou  sinkest  from  thy  lofty  height; 
And  evening  paints  her  rose-red  cover, 

A  curtain  for  the  gods'  delight. 
Earth's  rills  breathe  love  to  one  another, 

Of  love  heaven's  wind  is  whispering  down; 
O  welcome,  Night,  thou  goddess-mother, 

With  pearls  upon  thy  bridal  gown! 

How  still  the  stars  glide  o'er  the  azure,  5 

As  tiptoes  youth  to  maiden  true! 
Fly  o'er  the  fjord  in  swiftest  measure, 

Ellida;  roll,  ye  billows  blue! 
For  Balder' s  grove  is  lying  yonder, 

And  in  its  shade  his  temple  old, 
Where  love's  own  goddess  lone  doth  ponder; — 

Unto  the  gods  our  course  we  hold* 

How  joyous  I  the  strand  am  treading !+  6 

O  earth,  I  fain  would  kiss  thy  cheek, 
And  you,  O  flowerets  dainty,  threading 

My  path  with  white  and  ruddy  streak.     . 
Thou  light-diffusing  moon,  that  gleannst 

O'er  land  and  grove  and  temple,  all, 
How  fair  thou  sittest,  as  thou  dreamest, 

Like  Saga*  in  a  bridal  hall! 

*  'At  Sogn,  in  Norway,  a  sanctuary  consecrated  to  Balder  was  surrounded  by  an 
extensive  enclosure,  and  consisted  of  buildings  constructed  at  great  cost.  There  was  one 
lemple  for  the  gods,  and  another  for  the  goddesses  of  Valhall,  —  the  latter,  especially, 
extremely  high."  — Finn  Magnuson. 

t  Balder's  strand  lay  across  the  fjord  from  Framuas,  the  latter  being  on  the  south 
shore,  at  its  sharp  turn  to  the  South-east. 

J  The  personified  saga  or  narration— the  goddess  of  story.  — the  Clio  of  the  North. 
Her  stately  mansion  Sokvabak  was  continually  laved  by  the  cold  ocean  waves.     Apollo 
sought  the  Southern  muse  at  Helicon's  fountain.     So  Oden  seeks  Saga  here. 
"Sokvabak  hight  the  fourth  dwelling; 
Over  it  flow  thy  cool  billows: 
Glad  drink  there  Oden  and  Saga 
Every  day  from  golden  cuds." 

Norse  Mythology. 

107 


FREYA 


From   Old   N<.rsc   Storie* 

T    .dl^tl 


Ye  murmuring  brooklets,  who  hath  taught  you         ? 

To  tell  to  flowers  my  feelings  blest  ? 
Who.  Northern  nightingales,  hath  brought  you 

The  dirges  stolen  from  my  breast? 
With  sunset's  red  now  paint  the  fairies* 

My  Ingeborg's  form  on  canvas  blue; 
But  Freja  jealous  wrath  e'er  carries, 

And  quickly  blows  the  cloud  from  view/1' 

But  let  it  fade, — her  image  royal;  8 

She,  fair  as  hope,  herself  is  there, 
And  now,  as  childhood's  memory  loyal, 

She  comes  my  love's  reward  to  bear. 
Ah,  best  beloved,  I  would  be  pressing 

To  mine  the  heart  that  beats  so  dear! 
My  soul's  desire,  my  life's  rich  blessing, 

Come  to  these  arms,  and  rest  thee  here! 

Thy  form  is  like  the  lily  slender,  9 

Yet  rounded  as  the  ripened  rose. 

Thy  soul,  as  God's  will  pure  and  tender, 
Yet  warm  as  Freya's,  constant  glows!* 

*The  elves  (alfvar)  inhabited  Alfhem,  the  palace  of  Frey,  situated  high  in  the  third 
heaven,  above  the  power  of  the  flames  of  Raguardk,  the  Doomsday  of  the  gods. 

+The  Northern  deities,  like  those  of  Greece  and  Rome,  were  dominated  by  exagger- 
ated human  emotions.  Juno  once  sent  a  plague  to  devastate  the  land  of  Aeacus,  because 
it  had  been  named  from  one  of  her  husband's  female  favorites.  The  jealousy  of  Hera  is 
proverbial.  Apollo  flayed  Marsyas  alive  for  challenging  him  to  a  musical  contest.  Juno 
and  Minerva,  incensed  at  the  decision  of  Paris  against  their  beauty,  were  the  bitterest 
enemies  of  Venus,  their  successful  competitor.  The  latter  enlisted  Mars,  as  Minerva  did 
Neptune,  in  the  cause,  respectively,  of  Troy  and  Greece,  in  the  ten-year  war.  Venus 
wrought  terrible  vengeance  upon  Psyche  for  the  latter's  beauty.  Jealous  of  the  preference 
of  Hyacinthus  for  Apollo,  Zephyrus  blew  the  quoit  out  of  its  course,  and  caused  it  to  kill 
Hyacinthus.  Circe,  through  wrath  over  her  rival  Scylla's  love  for  Glaucus,  poisoned  the 
water  where  Scylla  bathed,  and  thereby  converted  her  into  a  rock.  Juno,  in  jealous  anger 
at  Jove's  praise  of  Callisto,  changed  her  into  a  bear.  Minerva  transformed  Arachne  into 
a  spider,  through  wrath  at  being  vanquished  by  her  in  a  weaving  contest.  She  also  con- 
verted a  beautiful-haired  maiden  into  the  frightful  serpent-haired  Medusa.  Jealous  of  the 
honors  the  Thebans  gave  to  I,atona,  Niobe  complained,  and  Latoua  caused  all  the  sons 
of  Niobe  to  perish  by  the  arrow.  Cassiopea  once  compared  herself  with  the  sea-nymphs, 
who  at  once  sent  a  sea-monster  to  ravage  her  coasts.    It  was  slain  by  Perseus. 

Thamyris  challenged  to  a  contest  of  skill  the  muses,  who  having  won,  put  out  the 
eyes  of  the  competing  bard. 

$"And  Freya  next  came  nigh,  with  golden  tears; 
The  loveliest  goddess  she  in  Heaven,  by  all 
Most  honored  after  Frigga,  Oden's  wife." 

—  .Matthew  Arnold. 
109 


... 


Kiss  me!   And    may   the  kiss  now 
given 

|      Thy  sonl  as  mine  prevade  and 
bless ; 
The  circling  earth  and  bending 
heaven 
Both  disappear  in  thy  caress. 


Be  not  afraid  of  lurking  dangers, — 
Bjorn  guards  the  temple   with 
his  sword: 
And  heroes,*  to  our  cause  no 
strangers, 
Would  shield  against  the 
world  outpoured! 
ml  For  thee  I  too  woiild  share  the 
tourney. 
In  strife  supporting  thee  as 
now : — 

m  And  glad  to  Valhall  take  my 

i  journey. 

If  my  Valkyrie+  could  be  thou! 


Of  Balder's  anger  dost  thou 
murmur? 

Not  wrathful  he.  the  pious  god; 
I  He  would  but  fix  our  faith  the 

firmer, — 
p       Our  vows  to  him  are  understood; 
|  His  brow  the  sunlight  bathes 
in  splendor. 
And  truth  eternal  fills  his  breast; 
Was  not  his  love  for  Nanna 
tender 
As  mine  for  thee,  as  pure  and 
blest? 


*Frithiofs  twelve  faithful  champions,  everywhere  attending  him. 

+The  Valkyries  (Valkyrior)  are  martial  maidens  armed  with  shields,  helmets  and 
-spears,  and  mounted  upon  swift  steeds.  The  flashing  of  their  armor  causes  the  Aurora 
Borealis.  Their  mission  is  to  visit  every  battle-field,  select  those  heroes  whom  the  fates 
(norns)have  marked  for  death,  conduct  them  to  Valhalla,  and  serve  them  with  mead 
and  ale  from  the  skulls  of  their  enemies.  The  Valkyries  were  the  nymphs  of  Valhalla, 
and  were  twelve  in  number.     See  Canto  III,  note. 

The  Valkyries  were  the  shield-maids  who  filled  the  mead-horns  at  the  banquets  of 
V.ilhalla's  heroes,  as  the  houris  of  the  Mohammedan  Paradise.  This  is  Frithiof's 
thought  here.  I  jo 


AUGUST    MAI  MS 


Of  Raider's  anger  dost  thou  murmur? 
Not  wrathful  he,   the  pious  god; 
He  would  but  fix  our  faith  the  firmer. 
Our  vows  to  him  are  understood. 


Canto  VII,  v.    ii,  p.   i  to.  i 


THE  VALKYRIES. 


12  There  stands  his  image,*  — he  is  near  it, — 

How  kind  he  guards  us  from  above! 
I  bring  to  him,  in  offering-spirit, 

A  heart  devout  and  filled  with  love. 
Bend  we  the  knee  before  him  lowly! 

No  gift  to  him  more  fair  can  be 
Than  twin-born  hearts'  devotion  holy, 

That  glows,  like  his,  in  constancy. f 

13  Less  for  the  earth  my  love  has  nourished 

Than  heaven,— do  not  its  strength  disdain! 
In  heaven  was  my  affection  nourished, 

And  for  its  home  now  longs  again. 
Could  I  behold  that  region  glorious, 

Could  I  but  die  as  now  with  thee, 
And  to  the  gods  depart  victorious 

In  thy  embrace, — 'twere  ecstacy ! 

14  When  other  heroes  were  advancing 

Through  silver  portals  to  the  strife,* 
I,  lingering  in  thy  smile  entrancing, 

Should  see  but  thee,  my  love,  my  life. 
When  Valhall's  maids,  with  eyes  that  twinkle, 

Set  forth  the  mead  whose  foam  is  gold, 
With  thine  alone  my  glass  should  tinkle,— 

To  thee  my  whispered  love  be  told. 

*The  statue  of  Balder  was  carved  out  of  pine,  and  placed  on  a  pedestal  above  the 
altar.     Frithiof  is  fated  later  to  destroy  this  sacred  image  of  the  god. 

+Balder,  the  second  son  of  Oden,  was  worshiped  not  only  by  the  Scandinavians, 
but  by  the  Germanic  nations.  He  typifies  the  light  of  the  sun,  renders  all  things  bright 
and  joyous,  and  creates  whatever  is  good,  peaceful  and  beneficent.  He  is  of  such  Apollo- 
like beauty  that  a  brilliant  light  streams  constantly  from  his  person. 

Balder  is  the  personification  of  the  principle  of  good. 

$The  heroes  of  Valhalla  were  called  Einheriar.  "Every  day  when  they  have  taken 
their  garments  upon  them,  they  array  themselves  for  battle,  march  out  of  the  great 
courtyard  of  Valhalla,  and  so  fight  manfully,  felling  each  other  to  the  earth.  Such  is 
their  sport.  But  when  it  draweth  toward  the  time  they  shall  break  their  fast,  then  ride 
they  home  to  Valhalla,  and  sit  down  to  drink,  reconciled." — Sturleson's  Edda. 

The  Einheriar  were  the  guests  of  Oden.  He  entertains  them  with  banquets  now. 
Later  he  will  need  all  their  assistance,  when  the  gods  at  Ragnarok  must  defend  them- 
selves against  all  the  united  powers  of  darkness. 

112 


A  leafy  bower  should  then  be  builded 

Upon  some  height  by  dark-blue  bay, 
Where  in  the  shade  of  grove  fruit-gilded, 

The  hours  of  rest  should  glide  away. 
When  Valhall's  sun  anew  ascended — 

(How  clear,  how  glorious  is  his  eye  !)— 
Our  course  should  to  the  gods  be  bended. 

With  longing  for  our  home  on  high. 


15 


THE  EINHERIAR 

A  crown  of  stars  should  be  enhancing  16 

The  golden  beauty  of  thy  brow; 
In  Vingolf-hall*  should  I  be  dancing 

With  my  pale  lily,  blushing  now; 
When  to  love's  peaceful  dwelling  fleetly 

I  drew  thee  from  the  dancing  throng, 
The  silver-bearded  Brage1"  sweetly 

At  eve  would  chant  our  bridal  song. 

*The  beautiful  abode  of  the  Asynjor—  the  goddesses;  the  mansion  of  Friendship 
in  Asgard,— usually  regarded  as  the  common  home  of  all  the  goddesses. 

+"The  tones  of  his  golden  harp,  and  the  sweet  music  of  his  voice  chanting  the 
exploits  of  gods  and  of  heroes,  proved  that  his  genius,  like  his  immortality  (for  he,  too, 
partook  of  the  apples  of  Iduna,  his  spouse),  was  always  young." — Stevens. 

113 


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17  Sweet  in  the  grove  the  night-bird  twitters! 

The  song  is  from  Valhalla's  strand; 
Soft  o'er  the  bay  the  moonlight  glitters. 

Effulgent  from  the  spirit-land. 
Both  song  and  moonlight  are  unfolding 

A  world  of  love,  from  sorrow  free; 
That  world  I  would  I  were  beholding 

With  thee,  my  Ingeborg,  with  thee! 

18  O  weep  thou  not!    For  life  yet  streameth 

Within  my  veins, — weep  thou  no  more! 
The  dreams  a  youthful  lover  dreameth 

Forever  to  the  azure  soar. 
But  when  in  thy  embrace  enraptured, 

( )ne  glance  thou  dost  bestow  on  me, 
Thou  hast  the  visionary  captured. — 

He  leaves  the  bliss  of  gods  for  thee! 

19  "Hark!  'Tis  the  lark!"  No!  Thou  but  hearest 

A  dove  that  coos  his  love-song  blest; 
The  lark  still  slumbers  by  his  dearest, 

Within  the  cozy  hillside  nest. 
How  joyous  they,  that  none  can  sever, — 

That  day  and  night  alike  may  share! 
Their  life  is  free  as  pinions  ever 

That  skyward  bear  the  happy  pair.'' 

20  "See!  Daylight  comes!"*  No!  'Tis  the  glimmer 

Of  some  far  watch-fire  in  the  east. 
Kind  night  yet  hides  the  morning's  shimmer, 
The  hour  for  converse  hath  not  ceased. 

*As  Sogn  lies  within  five  degrees  of  the  latitude  where  the  sun  is  visible  during  all 
the  night  when  the  nights  are  at  the  longest,  we  must  not  regard  Frithiof's  visit  as  an 
unduly  protracted  one.  Even  in  Scotland  the  summer  span  of  darkness  comprises  less 
than  four  hours,  and  it  scarcely  grows  late  before  it  is  early. 

Il6 


THE    LOVERS    .U     UALDKR'S    SHRINE  —  K 


O'ersleep  tHyself,  day's  planet  golden, 
And  still  of  rest  imbibe  thy  till! 

Frithiof  would  see  thee  sleep-enfolden 
Till  Bagnarok,*  were  such  thy  will!" 

•21  Alas!     The  hope  is  but  delusion: 

x  The  morning  winds  already  speak, 
And  eastern  roses  in  profusion 

Bud  fresh  as  Ingeborg's  fair  cheek. 
A  flock  of  winged  songsters  twitters — 

A  thoughtless  throng — in  brightening  sky 
All  life  awakes,  the  wavelet  glitters. 
And  lovers  with  the  shadows  fly. 

22  In  all  his  glory  he  advances! 

O  golden  sun,  forgive  my  prayer! 
A  god,  I  feel,  dwells  in  thy  glances, — 

How  splendid  gleams  he,  yet  how  fair! 
O  blest  who  treads  his  path  so  glorious, 

So  mighty,  as  thou  treadest  now; 
Who  proud  and  glad  his  life  victorious 

In  light  empanoplies  as  thou! 


*"The  twilight  of  the  gods,"  the  world's  destruction  and  the  regeneration  of  gods 
and  men,  the  last  great  battle  between  the  Good  and  the  Kvil.  Till  Raguardk  =  till 
Doomsday. 

"The  evil  seed  which  the  tempter  had  sown,  grew  and  flourished;  even  the  gods 
were  no  longer  free  from  guilt;  neither  truth  nor  faith  was  to  be  found  in  heaven  or  on 
earth,  and  love  had  lost  its  power;  the  bounds  of  law  were  broken,  and  the  destruction  of 
the  world  approached."— Asgard  and  the  Gods. 

The  descriptions  of  this  awful  day  are  sublime  as  portrayed  in  the  IJddas.  Thus 
the  Swedish  poet: 

"Blackness  shrouds  the  orb  of  day; 

Earth  is  gulfed  in  boiling  waves; 

Nor  a  lode-star's  lingering  ray 

Nature's  last  convulsion  braves. 

Up  the  World-tree's  mystic  height  (Yggdrasil) 

Fast  the  reeking  vapor  flies: 

Rival  clouds  of  lurid  light 

Sport  with  heaven,  and  fire  the  skies!" 

— Geiger. 
After  the  earth's  disintegration,  a  new  and  green-clad  earth  shall  rise  out  of  the  sea. 
and  become  the  home  of  gods  and  of  the  human  race  renewed  and  purified. 

Canto  XXIV,  an  almost  complete  compendium  of  Norse  Mythology,  contains,  with 
the  notes  appended,  a  graphic  account  of  the  scenes  of  Ragnarok. 

IlH 


Before  thine  eye  a  maiden  tender 

I  [.lace     the  fairest  of  the  North; 
Take  to  thy  care.  0  god  of  splendor, 

Thine  image  on  this  green-clad  earth. 
Her  soul  is  pure  as  is  thy  luster. 

Her  eye  as  thine  own  heaven  is  blue; 
The  same  gold  paints  her  ringlets*  cluster 

A.S  gives  thy  crown  its  radiant  hue. 


23 


Farewell,  my  love!     Another  meeting, 

A  longer  night,  we  yet  shall  know; 
One  kiss  upon  thy  brow  repeating, 

And  one  I  on  thy  lips  bestow! 
Sleep  now.  nor  from  thy  dreams  awaken 

( )f  love,  till  midday  breaks  the  spell; 
And  count  the  hours  as  I,  forsaken, 

With  longing  deep.     Farewell,  farewell! 


24 


II9 


(Eattto  lEigljtlj. 


Nearly  all  night  had  Ingeborg  watched  and  waited  wearily,  anx- 
iously, alone,  for  the  coming  of  Frithiof.  In  response  to  her 
tearful  supplications  he  had  consented  to  be  reconciled  with  Helge 
— even,  to  assist  him  against  King  Ring— provided  Helge  would 
yield  him  Ingeborg;  and  she  knew  Frithiof  had  gone  to  ask  her 
of  Helge  publicly,  before  all  the  Ting;  and  with  patience-exhaust- 
ing anxiety  and  ill-endured  foreboding  she  awaited  his  coming, 
and  the  decreeof  the  norns. 

The  people  all  favored  this  alliance,  and  had  chosen  Bele's 
mound  as  the  most  fitting  place  for  the  Council  to  meet  and  hear 
Helge's  decision,  as  well  as  to  develop  plans  for  the  instant  war 
with  Ring. 

At  last  Frithiof  returns  to  Ingeborg.  indignantly  describes  the 
scene  at  the  Ting,  tells  how  Helge  has  not  only  repulsed  his  suit, 
but  decreed  he  shall  sail  to  the  Orkneys  and  forcibly  collect  trib- 
ute of  Earl  Angantyr,  or  be  banished  forever  from  his  native  land. 
All  this  because  he  has  profaned  the  sanctuary  of  Balder.  In  an 
outburst  of  frenzied  bitterness  against  the  "crowned  hypocrite," 
he  importunes  his  love  to  fly  with  him  from  this  land  of  tyranny  to 
a  Paradisaical  home  among  the  Grecian  isles.  She  refuses  in  grief 
and  hopelessness.  Frithiof  sees  his  precipitancy,  reiterates  his 
vows,  proposes  to  discharge  the  penalty  laid  upon  him,  return  vin- 
dicated, and  then  claim  his  bride  before  all. 

He  places  upon  her  arm  the  ruby-set  arm-ring,  on  whose  calen- 
dar she  may  count  his  months  of  absence,  and  departs  hopeful 
and  defiant  of  the  norns. 

Like  the  parting  of  the  crest-waving  Hector  and  the  white- 
armed  Andromache  in  the  sixth  Iliad,  the  separation  of  Frithiof 
and  Ingeborg  is  an  episode  that  is,  and  always  will  be,  modern, 
since  it  depicts  the  universal  in  human  emotion,  which  remains 
unaltered  throughout  all  time,  and  in  every  land. 


-H|C3(e-€- 


VIII. 


(J/hc  jfamitfU. 


INGEBORG. 

AY  dawns  once  more,  and  Frithiof 
cometh  not, 
Although  the  council*  yesterday  was  called 
On  Bele's  mound;  the  jjlace  was  chosen  well; 
For  there  his  daughter's  fate  should  be  decreed. 
At  what  a  cost  to  me  of  many  prayers,  5 

Of  many  tears,  by  Freya  numbered  o'er, 
Was  thawed  the  ice  of  hate  round  Frithiof's 
heart — 

Was  gained  the  promise  from  the  proud  one's  lips 
To  give  the  reconciling  hand  again !+ 


The  assembly  of  all  who  were  able  to  bear  arms,  conducted  in  the  open  air,  like 
the  court  of  Areopagus  at  Athens,  and  the  first  senate  of  Rome.  This  judicial  or  legisla- 
tive assembly  of  Scandinavia  was  called  the  Thing,  or  Ting. 

To  Helge,  who  had  insultingly  offered  Frithiof  a  place  among  his  servants,  but  now 
i  ainly  sought  his  assistance  against  King  Ring. 

121 


10         All!  Feelingless  is  man!     For  honor's  sake 

(Thus  nameth  he  his  pride) — he  reckons  not 

Of  weighty  import  that  he  heedless  bruise 

To  great  or  small  degree  one  loving  heart. 

The  fragile  woman,  leaning  on  his  breast, 
15  Is  like  a  moss-growth  clinging  to  a  crag 

With  faded  colors,  while  it  scarcely  holds 

Itself  unseen  upon  the  frigid  rock, 

And  finds  its  nurture  in  the  tears  of  night. 

So  yesterday  my  fate  determined  was. 
20  And  over  it  the  evening  sun  hath  set: 

Yet  Frithiof  cometh  not!     The  paling  stars 

Now  one  by  one  go  out  and  disappear, 

And  with  each  fading  star  a  hope  is  slain, 

And  from  my  heart  is  falling  to  its  grave. 
25  Ah,  wherefore  should  I  hope?     Valhalla's  gods, 

They  love  me  not, — I  have  offended  them. 

The  lofty  Balder,  neath  whose  care  I  dwell,* 

With  me  is  wroth,  for  that  a  human  love 

Is  yet  unholy  in  the  sight  of  gods; 
30  And  earthly  joy  may  hazard  not  itself 

Beneath  the  arches*  where  the  mighty  powers 

In  sanctity  have  set  their  dwelling-place. 

And  yet,  where  lies  my  fault,  and  why  contemns 

The  pious  deity  a  maiden's  love? 
35  Is  it  not  pure  as  Urda's*  sparkling  wave, 

And  innocent  as  Gefjon's^  morning  dreams? 

*  She  is  still  in  Balder's  temple.  t  Of  the  temple. 

#The  norii  of  the  Past.  Verdandi  is  the  norn  of  the  Present;  Skulda,  of  the  Future. 
They  mould  the  destinies  of  men.  Their  doom  is  irrevocable.  To  these  goddesses  of 
fate,  sitting  at  at  the  foot  of  the  tree  Yggdrasil,  the  gods  themselves  must  bow.  since  their 
lives  are  time-limited  and  norn-decreed. 

§The  goddessof  maidens,  and  the  first  asa-goddess.  She  is  present  at  Agir's  feast, 
and  knows  men's  fate  equally  well  with  Oden. 

King  Gylfe,  of  Sweden,  it  is  related,  once  gave  to  a  wandering  woman,  as  compen- 
sation for  her  havingentertained  him  with  a  song,  as  much  land  from  his  domains  as 
she  could  plow  with  four  oxen  in  a  day  and  a  night.  She  was  Gefjon,  of  the  race  of asas 
She  transformed  her  four  sons  into  oxen,  plowed  the  furrows  deep,  tearing  up  the  land 
which  the  oxen  and  plow  drew  out  into  the  sea  in  a  wonderful  manner,  until  the  Danish 
island  of  Seeland  was  thus  formed.  The  depression  where  the  land  had  been,  became 
a  sea  ILoyriuu),  whose  outlines  correspond  to  those  of  Seeland. 


igg*?t#* fi&vr*  wv*  rrv\^^tf?r.  ■-,;  v.  .  ^js* 

1  vm&gft^--**  %^y-mfk 


THE  TEMPLE'S  PORTAL. 


The  sun  supernal  turneth  not  away 
From  two  devoted  hearts  his  shining  eye; 
And  Day's  dark  widow,  star-bespangled  Night, 

40         Amidst  her  woe  still  gladly  hears  their  vows. 

That  which  is  worthy  neath  the  vault  of  heaven, 
How  grows  it  sinful  neath  the  temple-vault? 
Frithiof  I  love:  ah,  long, — as  long  ago 
As  memory  can  reach, — him  have  I  loved; 

4.",  The  feeling  is  the  twin-born  of  my  soul; 

I  know  not  its  beginning,  nor  can  paint 
In  fancy,  e'en,  the  time  when  it  was  not. 
As  round  its  kernel  sets  the  early  fruit, 
As  grows  its  orb  of  gold  in  summer's  sun, 

50         So  likewise  have  I  grown,  and  ripening  clung 
About  this  kernel,  till  my  being  seems 
As  but  the  outer  shell  that  holds  my  love. 
Forgive  me,  Balder!     With  a  constant  heart 
Thy  halls  I  entered,  and  with  constancy 

55  Will  I  from  them  depart,  and  take  with  me 

This  love  across  the  arch  of  Bifrost's*  bridge, 
And  place  it  there  before  Valhalla's  gods. 
There  shall  it  stand,  an  asa-child  as  they, 
And  in  the  shields  behold  its  mirrored  self, 

60         And  fly  on  loosened  dove-wings  through  the  blue 
And  boundless  skies  unto  AllfatherV  arms, 
Wheref rom  it  came, — Oh !  why  in  morning's  gray, 
Dost  gather  frowningly  thy  radiant  brow? 
In  my  veins  as  in  thine  the  same  blood  flows;— 

65  Of  ancient  Oden.     Kinsman,*  what  wouldst  thou? 

*"The  trembling  bridge."  It  is  also  called  asbru,"asa  bridge,"  and  guarded  day 
and  night  by  Heimdal,  lest  the  giants,  the  enemies  of  the  gods,  should  cross  it  into  As- 
gard,  and  storm  their  sacred  abode.  It  is  the  only  route  from  earth  to  heaven,  the  link 
uniting  men  to  gods.  — a  beautiful,  iridescent,  hope-inspiring  arch,  spanning  Hela's 
dark  "gulf  of  tears  and  sighs."  To  us  a  covenant-token,  it  was  to  the  Norsemen  a  peace- 
symbol  and  a  hope-anchor. 

■fOneof  the  200  appellations  of  Oden. 

:flia1dc-r,  son  ot  their  common  ancestor  Oden. 

124 


V.: 


f^^ 


KMT    I.KW.vLL 


He  said,   ami   severed  at  one-  stroke-  now 
The  kind's  gold   shield   that  bedecked  a  bow. 
Its  halves  asunder 
Fell  over  the  tomb,  and  resounded   under! 

(Canto  IV,   v.  ;,j,   ]>.  S9.  | 
'25 


I  cannot  offer  thee  my  heart's  best  love, 

Nor  would  I;  it  is  worthy  of  thy  heaven. 

But  I  can  offer  my  life's  joy,  indeed, 

Can  cast  it  from  me  as  a  queen  lays  off 
70         Her  mantle,  yet  remains,  though  unadorned, 

The  self-same  queen.     But  my  resolve  is  fixed! 

Valhalla  high  shall  never  blush  for  me, 

Its  kindred;  I  will  journey  to  my  fate, 

As  moves  toward  his  the  hero. — Frithiof  comes! 
75  How  wild,  how  pale!     The  die  of  fate  is  cast! 

My  angered  nom*  accompanies  his  step. 

Be  strong,  my  soul! — I  welcome  thee  at  last! 

Our  fate  is  settled,  and  upon  thy  brow 

Stands  graved  the  sentence. 

FRITHIOF. 

Stand  not  likewise  there 
80  The  blood-red  runes  that  clearly  speak  of  shame, 

Disdain  and  exile? 

INGEBORG. 

Frithiof,  calm  thyself! 
Whate'er  has  happened,  tell!  the  worst  long  since 
Have  I  foreseen,  and  am  prepared  for  all. 

FRITHIOF. 

Upon  the  barrow  I  the  council  met;+ 

85  And  round  the  mound's  green  sides,  with  shield  to  shield, 

And  sword  in  hand,  were  ranged  the  Northland's  men, 
In  circles,  each  within  the  other  curved, 
Unto  the  summit.     On  the  judgment- stone 
Thy  brother  Helge  sat,  a  thunder-cloud,— 

90  A  pale-faced  headsman  with  a  darkening  glance; 

And  by  his  side,  a  full-grown,  comely  child, 

*The  term  is  applied  to  personified  fates  in  general;  every  person  was  presumed  to 
have  his  norns. 

+ The  Tiug  met  upon  the  sepulchral  mound  of  King  Bele,  as  being  the  most  conse- 
crated of  all  spots 

126 


Sat  thoughtless  Half  dan,  playing  with  his  sword. 
Then  stepped  I  forth  and  spoke:  "Dread  Warfare  stands 
And  strikes  his  shield  within  our  nation's  bounds; 
Thy  land,  King  Helge,  is  by  dangers  pressed ! 
Give  me  thy  sister,  and  I  loan  to  thee 
Mine  arm  in  battle, — it  can  serve  thee  well. 
Between  us  let  all  grudges  be  forgot! 
Toward  Ingeborg's  brother  I  would  hold  no  hate. 
Be  just,  O  King,  and  by  one  measure  save 
Thy  crown  of  gold  and  thy  dear  sister's  heart; 
I  give  my  hand.     By  Asa-Thor,*  to  thee 
It  ne'er  again  shall  offered  be  for  peace !"- 


nr, 


100 


A  murmur  moved  the  Ting.     A  thousand  swords 

Approval  sounded  on  a  thousand  shields.+  105 

The  weapon-clang  resounded  to  the  sky 

Which  joyous  drank  free  men's  applause  for  right. 

"To  him  give  Ingeborg,  the  lily  slim, 

The  fairest  ever  grown  within  our  dales; 

He  is  the  mightiest  sword  in  all  our  land! 

*Tlie  god  Thor,  Asa  being  a  prefix.  "Three  valuables  hath  he:  Mjolner,  the  ham- 
mer, which  frost-trolls  and  mountain-giants  know;  for  the  heads  of  many  of  their  father* 
and  kinsmen  hath  he  broken  therewith;  the  second  precious  thing  he  hath  is  a  right 
excellent  Meging-jard,  or  belt,  and  when  he  girdeth  himself  therewith,  his  asa-might  is 
doubled  to  the  half;  but  a  third  thing  hath  he  which  is  exceedingly  precious— his  Jarn- 
glofar,  or  iron  gloves;  these  he  cannot  miss,  for  to  grasp  the  hammer-shaft  withal." 

—Strong. 
+Their  customary  method  of  applauding,  as  also  in   ancient  Scotland. 

I27 


To  him  give  Ingeborg!" — My  foster-sire, 

The  aged  Hilding,  of  the  silver-beard, 

Stood  forth  and  uttered  words  of  wisdom  full, — 

Brief,  pithy  words,  like  strokes  of  clanging  blades; — 

115        And  very  Halfdan  from  his  regal  seat 

Arose  with  interceding  words  and  glance. 
All  was  in  vain;  each  prayer  sincere  was  lost, 
Like  sunshine  squandered  on  a  frigid  rock. 
Luring  no  vegetation  from  its  heart. 

120        And  Helge's  countenance  remained  unmoved, 
A  pale-faced  "No"  to  every  human  prayer. 
He  spoke  disdainful:  "To  a  peasant's  son 
I  might  give  Ingeborg;  but  who  profanes 
The  temple,  is  unfit  for  Valhall's  child! 

125        Has  thou  not,  Frithiof,  broken  Balder's  peace? 
Hast  thou  not  seen  my  sister  in  his  fane, 
When,  for  your  meeting,  day  itself  had  hid? 
Speak  yea  or  nay!"     Resounded  then  a  cry 
From  all  the  rings  of  men:  "Say  nay,  say  nay! 

130       We  trust  thee  on  thy  word,  we  sue  for  thee! 

Thou,  Thorsten's  son,  of  equal  worth  with  kings, 
Say  nay,  say  nay; — and  Ingeborg  is  thine!" 
"My  whole  life's  joy  is  hanging  on  one  word," 
Said  I,  "but  fear  not  that,  O  Helge,  king. 

135        I  would  not  lie  myself  to  Valhall's  joy, 

Nor  e'en  to  earth's.     Thy  sister  I  have  seen, 
Have  spoken  with  her  in  the  temple's  night, 
But  have  thereby  not  broken  Balder's  peace." — * 
More  speech  was  granted  not.     Abhorrent  cries 

140        Flew  through  the  council.     They  who  nearest  stood 
Drew  back  from  me  as  from  a  pestilence; 
When  looked  I  round  me,  superstition  dumb 

*  It  was  considered  sacrilege  for  a  man  and  woman   to  exchange   a  word  in  the  sa- 
cred temple  of  Balder,  or  for  a  layman  to  enter  at  the  hour  of  night. 

128 


Had  paralyzed  each  tongue,  and  paled  each  cheek 

So  lately  flushed  with  all-exultant  hope. 

Then  triumphed  Helge.     With  a  voice  as  dark 

And  awful  as  the  ghastly  Vala's  tones 

In  Vegtam's*  song,  when  she  for  Oden  sang 

The  asas'  ruin  and  Hel's  victory, — 

So  dismally  he  said:  '"Exile  or  death 

I  might  decree,  by  our  forefathers'  laws, 

For  thy  misdeed;  but  I  will  lenient  be, 

As  Balder  is,  whose  house  thou  hast  profaned. 

The  Western  sea  enfolds  a  wreath  of  isles,+ 

Whereof  Jarl*  Angantyr  is  governor. 


145 


150 


So  long  as  Bele  lived,  the  Jarl  to  us  155 

Each  year  paid  tribute;  since  then  he  has  failed. 

*A  name  taken  by  Oden  when  he  consulted  the  sybil,  as  set  forth  in  Vegtam's 
Qvida,  the  eleventh  lay  of  the  older  Icelandic  Edda.  Under  the  name  Vegtam  (wayfarer), 
Oden  seeks  the  departed  Vala  in  Hel,  to  inquire  of  Balder's  fate,  who  had  become  dis- 
pirited through  ominous  dreams.  The  priestess  is  wroth  at  Oden's  incantation  and  magic 
songs  that  have  disturbed  her  sleep  and  drawn  her  from  her  snow-covered  grave.  Un- 
willingly she  answers  his  inquiries,  and  predicts  the  death  of  Balder  at  the  hand  of  his 
blind  brother  Hoder.  Discovering  the  identity  of  Oden,  she  angrily  commands  him  to 
ride  home  and  boast  of  his  achievement.  For  never  before  has  mortal  or  god  presumed 
to  disturb  her  repose,  nor  shall  again  before  the  day  of  the  gods    destruction. 

+The  Orkneys,  nearly  400  miles  distant,  in  a  S.  \V.  direction.  At  this  season  of  the 
year,  this  would  be  a  long  and  perilous  voyage. 

*Earl.  I29 


Sail  o'er  the  wave  and  bring  this  tribute  home!* 
This  penalty  I  set  for  thine  offense. 
"Tis  said,"  (he  sneered  in  words  of  mean  contempt), 
160        "That  Angantyr  close-handed  is,  and  pores 


165 


THE  DRACHENFELS. 

Like  dragon  Fafner+  o'er  his  gold;  but  who 

Could  match  our  modern  Sigurd  Fafnersbane?* 

And  now  a  far  more  manly  exploit  seek 

Than  fascinating  maids  in  Balder's  grove! 

Till  summer's  coming  we  shall  wait  for  thee, 

With  all  thj  glory  and  the  tribute-gold; 

And  fail'st  thou,  Frithiof,  thou  art  each  man's  scorn, 

And  for  thy  life  an  outlaw  in  our  land!" — 

With  this  decree  the  council  was  dissolved. 


*On  Angantyr's  first  meeting  with  Bele  and  Thorsten,  they  came  to  pitched  combat, 
and  after  a  severe  duel  (both  champions  standing  on  one  hide)  they  swore  foster-brother- 
ship  with  each  other,  and  were  inseparable  in  their  after-rovings.  "The  three  conquered 
the  Orkneys,  over  which  Angantyr  was  given  dominion,  and  for  which  he  paid  annual 
tribute."— Saga  of  Thorsten. 

+Eldest  son  of  Hreidmar,  a  king  of  the  dwarfs,  to  whom  Oden,  Loke  and  Hoenir 
gave  the  Nibelungen  treasure  of  gold  as  indemnity  for  having  slain  his  son  Otter,  brother 
of  Fafner.  The  latter  slew  Hreidmar,  bore  away  the  gold,  and  assumed  a  dragon's  form. 

^Sigurd  slew  Fafner,  by  awaiting,  in  a  pit  which  he  had  dug,  the  passing  overof 
the  dragon,  whose  heart  he  pierced  with  the  sword.  Fafnersbane  =  Fafner' s  slayer. 
"Our  new  Sigurd  Fafnersbane,"  contemptuously  for  Frithiof.  Sigurd  is  called  Siegfried 
in  the  German  mythology,  forming  the  subject  of  Wagner's  opera.  The  cave  of  the 
dragon  still  exists  in  the  side  of  one  of  the  seven  neighboring  mountains  called  "the 
seven  sisters"  near  Konigswinter  on  the  east  side  of  the  Rhine.  This  mountain  is  called 
the  Drachenfels  (dragon's  rock),  of  which  is  given  a  view  from  a  picture  there  obtained 
by  the  translator.  130 


INGEBORG. 

And  thy  decision? 

FRITHIOF. 

Is  there  left  a  choice? 
Is  not  mine  honor  bound  by  his  decree? 
I  will  unbind  it,  e'en  though  Angantyr 
Conceal  his  paltry  gold  in  Nastrand's*  flood. 
This  day  depart  I. 

INGEBORG. 

And  abandon  me? 

FRITHIOF. 

Nay,  leave  thee  never;  thou  attendest  me. 

INGEBORG. 

Impossible! 


170 


175 


NASTRAND,  THE  NORSEMAN'S  HELL. 


FRITHIOF. 

Hear  me.  ere  thou  reply ! 
Thy  subtle  brother  seems  to  have  forgot 

*  The  strand  of  corpses.— the  abode  of  darkness  and  anguish  in  the  nether  world,— a 
horrible  cavern  beneath  the  infernal  root  of  Yggdrasil.  Its  walls  and  ceiling  are  of  inter- 
twined serpents,  whose  heads  turn  into  the  cave,  and  out  of  whose  mouths  the  poisonous 
venom  ceaselessly  flows.  Through  this  slimy  poison  wade  the  wicked,  whose  terrible 
agony  is  portrayed  by  blood-dyed  faces,  flame-wrapped  clothes,  torn-out  and  hanging 
learts,  dragon-pierced  bodies,  stone-riveted  hands.  Barbarous  and  diabolical  enough, 
his  heathen  conception  of  hell,  but  certainly  not  more  so  than  that  of  the  eternal  fire. 

131 


That  Angantyr  was  both  my  father's  friend 
And  Bele's  also;  he  perchance  may  grant 
With  freedom  what  I  ask;  but  should  he  not, 

180        A  strong  persuader  and  a  keen  have  I, 
That  at  my  left  side  hangs  in  loyalty. 
To  Helge  will  I  send  the  dear-loved  gold, 
And  thereby  ransom  from  the  offering-knife 
Of  that  crowned  hypocrite  both  you  and  me. 

185        But  we  ourselves,  fair  Ingeborg,  shall  lift 
Ellida's  canvas  over  unknown  seas; 
And  she  will  rock  us  to  some  friendly  strand 
That  offers  welcome  to  an  exiled  love. 
What  is  to  me  the  North  V     Or  what,  a  race 

190        That  pallid  grows  at  every  priest's  behest, — 
And  of  its  fairest  rose  would  vilely  rob 
The  inmost  sanctuary  of  my  heart? 
By  Freya,  it  shall  nothing  them  avail! 
The  wretched  slave  is  fettered  to  the  turf 

195        Where  he  first  saw  the  light; — but  I  am  free, — 
Free  as  the  mountain  wind.     A  little  dust 
Seized  from  my  father's  and  from  Bele's  grave, 
Will  find  a  place  on  ship-board;  that  is  all 
We  e'er  shall  need  of  this  our  fosterland. 

200        My  loved  one,  there  doth  flame  another  situ 

Than  that  which  paleth  o'er  these  cliffs  of  snow; 
And  there  doth  glow  a  fairer  sky  than  this. 
Whence  mild-eyed  stars,  with  glances  more  divine, 
Look  down  serene  in  balmy  summer  nights 

205        On  laurel  groves  and  lovers  wandering  there. 
My  father,  Thorsten,  Viking's  son,  afar 
Encompassed  land  and  wave,  and  oft  described 
By  firelight  in  the  long,  long  winter  nights, 
The  Grecian  sea  and  all  the  isles  therein. 

132 


SIGURD  SLAYING  THE  DRAGON. 


From   Old   Norse  Ston'eo. 

C  opyright    1900.   by 

Shrill    Power*   Bradi»h 


210        And  green-clad  forests  in  the  crystal  waves.* 
A  mighty  race  there  dwelt  in  days  of  yore, 
And  sacred  gods  adorned  the  marble  fanes. 
Now  stand  they  all  deserted ;  verdure  grows 
In  paths  abandoned,  and  a  flower  oft  springs 

215        From  runes+  that  speak  the  wisdom  of  the  past; 
And  slender  columns  there  are  growing  green, 
Entwined  by  graceful  tendrils  of  the  South. 
And  all  the  year  the  fertile  earth  brings  forth 
Great  unsown  harvests  for  the  needs  of  men; 

220        There  golden  apples  redden  mid  the  leaves, 
And  ruddy  grapes  are  loading  every  vine, 
And  swell  as  thine  own  lips  luxurious. 
There,  Ingeborg,  there  build  we  in  the  sea 
A  little  North,  more  beautiful  than  this; 

225        And  with  our  love  all  faithful  we  will  fill 
The  lofty  temple-vaults,  and  so  delight 
With  human  gladness  the  forgotten  gods. 
And  when  the  sailor  with  his  canvas  lax, — 
For  storms  ne'er  flourish  there — drifts  by  our  isle 

230        Neath  twilight's  painted  sky,  and  joyous  turns 

His  glance  from  rose-hued  waters  to  the  strand, — 
Upon  the  temple's  threshold  he  shall  see 
The  second  Freya- — in  the  Grecian  tongue 
Called  Aphrodite*  — and  shall  marvel  then 

235        To  see  her  gold  locks  waving  in  the  breeze, 

Her  eyes  more  lustrous  than  the  Southern  heaven; 

And  afterward,  around  her  springeth  up 

A  little  progeny  of  temple-elves, 

With  cheeks  where  thou  wouldst  think  the  South  had  set 

240        In  Northern  snow-drifts  all  his  richest  flowers. 

*The   Norsemen's  expeditions  frequently  extended   to   Southern   Europe,   to  the 
African  coasts,  and  even  to  Asia;  and  were  conducted  with  no  compass  whatever. 
+  Inscriptions  carved  on  decaying  temple  walls  and  pillars. 

%  Identical  with  the  Roman  Venus  was  the  Greek  Aphrodite,— the  goddess  of  love. 

134 


Ah,  Ingeborg!     How  fair,  how  near,  abides 

All  earthly  joy  to  two  devoted  hearts! 

Tf  they  the  mood  to  seize  it  but  possess, 

It  follows  gladly,  and  builds  up  for  them 

A  Vingolf  *  here  already  neath  the  clouds.  245 

Come,  haste  thee!     Every  word  we  utter  now 

A  moment  stealeth  from  our  happiness. 

All  is  prepared ;  Ellida  eager  spreads 

Her  dusky  eagle-pinions  now  for  flight, 

And  morning  winds  inspiring  show  the  way  25C 

Forever  from  this  superstitious  strand. 

Why  lingerest  thou? 

INGEBORG. 

I  cannot  follow  thee.+ 

FRITHIOF. 

Not  follow  me? 

INGEBORG. 

Ah,  Frithiof,  blest  art  thou! 
Thou  followest  none,  but  goest  first  thyself, 
Like  as  the  stem  upon  thy  dragon-ship;  255 

Thy  will  stands  at  the  helm,  and  steers  thy  course 
With  swerveless  hand  across  the  angry  seas. 
How  otherwise,  alas!  it  is  with  me! 
My  fate  in  other  hands  than  mine  doth  rest; 
They  ne'er  release  their  prey,  although  it  bleed.  260 

To  sacrifice  all  joy,  lament  and  pine 
In  loneliness,  is  Bele's  daughter's  lot. 

FRITHIOF. 

Art  thou  not  free  whene'er  thou  wilt?     Thy  sire 
The  tomb  enfolds. 

INGEBORG. 

Ah,  Helge  is  my  sire, 


"Vingolf,  the  "floor  of  friends,"  one  of  the  mansions  of  Asgard,  built  by  the  asas, 
to  which  the  Einheriar  and  all  other  good  souls  have  access  after  the  earthly  life. 
+The  Swedish  verb  folja  means  also  to  accompany. 

'35 


265         And  holds  my  father's  place;  on  his  consent 
Depends  my  hand;  and  Bele's  daughter  steals 
Her  rapture  not,  how  near  soe'er  it  lies. 
Ah,  what  were  woman,  should  she  free  herself 
From  every  band  wherewith  Allfather  binds 

270        Her  fragile  being  to  the  powerful? 
She  images  the  water-lily  pale, 
Rising  and  falling  with  the  wave  anon; 
The  sailor's  keel  across  it  onward  sweeps, 
Perceiving  not  that  it  has  cut  the  stalk. 

275        This  is  the  lily's  fate;  but  just  as  long 
As  in  the  sand  its  root  remains  secure, 
The  plant  still  has  its  worth,  and  borrows  hue 
Of  its  pale  sisterhood  of  stars  above, — 
Itself  a  star  upon  the  azure  deep. 

280        But  be  it  broken  loose,  it  drifts  away 
A  withered  leaf  upon  the  desert  wave. 
Last  night — the  night  indeed  was  terrible — 
I  waited  long  for  thee;  thou  earnest  not, 
And  night's  own  children,  grave  and  earnest  thoughts, 

285         With  sable  locks,  went  rushing  ceaseless  by 

My  wakeful  eye  that  burned  with  unshed  tears 
Balder  himself,  the  bloodless  god,  sent  down 
Upon  me  glances  full  of  menacing. — 
Last  night  I  pondered  long  upon  my  fate, 

290        And  my  resolve  is  fixed:   I  will  remain 

A  duteous  victim  for  my  brother's  shrine. 
Yet  it  was  well  that  thee  I  did  not  hear 
Singing  thy  imaged  islands  mid  the  clouds 
Where  twilights  ever  lend  their  softened  glow 

295        To  that  lone  blossom-world  of  peace  and  love. 

Who  knows  how  weak  one  is?     My  childhood's  dreams, 

That  long  were  silent,  now  arise  once  more, 

'36 


A  GRECIAN  TFMPLE 


And  whisper  in  mine  ear  with  voices  sweet 

And  well  remembered  as  a  sister's  tones, 
300        And  tender  as  a  lover's  murmured  vows. 

I  hear  you  not,  ah,  no!  I  hear  you  not, 

Enchanting  voices  once  so  dear  to  me! 

What  would  a  Northland  child  in  Southern  climes? 

Too  pallid  were  I  for  the  roses  there, 
305        My  mind  too  hueless  for  that  summer  glow; 

I  should  be  withered  by  that  burning  sun. 

And,  full  of  longing,  turn  anon  mine  eye 

To  this  North  star  that  never  straying  stands 

A  heavenly  sentry  o'er  our  fathers'  graves.* 
310        Nor  shall  my  noble  Frithiof  now  forsake 

The  dear  land  he  was  born  to  guard  and  save; 

Nor  shall  he  cast  away  his  name  and  fame 

For  aught  so  trifling  as  a  maiden's  love. 

A  life  wherein  the  sun,  from  year  to  year, 
315        Spins  each  successive  day  like  that  before 

(A  fair  but  endless  sameness),  fitted  seems 

For  woman  only;  but  to  souls  of  men, 

To  thine  of  all,  life's  calm  were  wearisome. 

Thou  thrivest  best  when  tempests  ride  around  ' 
320        On  foaming  pacers  o'er  the  raging  deep, 

When  on  thy  reeling  plank,  for  life  or  death, 

Thou  tightest  perils  for  thine  honor's  sake. 

The  beauteous  solitude  which  thou  dost  paint 

Would  be  a  grave  for  exploits  yet  unborn ; 
325        And  with  thy  rusting  shield  would  also  rust 

Thy  once  unfettered  mind.     It  shall  not  be! 

I  will  not  steal  away  my  Frithiof  s  name 

From  songs  of  poets ;  neither  will  I  quench 

*As  tlie  North,  star  is  within  about  one  degree  of  the  pole  of  the  heavens,  it  of  course 
appears  motionless  from  whatever  point  it  is  viewed. 

138 


My  hero's  glory  in  its  morning  dawn. 

Be  wise,  my  Frithiof ;  to  the  lofty  norns  330 

Now  let  us  yield,  and  from  our  shipwrecked  lives 

Let  us  at  least  our  honor  still  preserve! 

Our  happiness  no  longer  can  be  saved, 

And  we  must  part. 

FRITHIOF. 

And  wherefore  must  we  part? 
For  that  a  sleepless  night  untunes  thy  mind?  335 

INGEBORG. 

For  that  mine  honor  must  be  saved,  and  thine. 

FRITHIOF. 

A  woman's  honor  rests  upon  man's  love. 
INGEBORG 

Not  long  he  loves  whom  he  no  more  respects. 

FRITHIOF. 

Respect  is  not  by  whims  capricious  won. 

INGEBORG. 

A  worthy  whim  must  be  the  sense  of  right.  340 

FRITHIOF. 

Our  love  warred  not  with  duty  yesterday. 

INGEBORG. 

Nor  yet  to-day,  but  all  the  more  our  flight. 

FRITHIOF. 

Necessity  demands  the  latter, — come! 

INGEBORG. 

"Whate'er  is  noble,  is  necessity. 

FRITHIOF. 

High  rides  the  sun,  the  time  is  hastening  by.  i45 

INGEBORG. 

Ah!     Woe  is  me,  it  is  forever  by! 

FRITHIOF. 

Consider  well; — is  this  thy  last  decree? 

i39 


INGEBORG. 

I  have  considered  well;  it  is  my  last. 

FRITHIOF. 

Well  then,  King  Helge's  sister,  fare  thee  well! 

INGEBORG. 

350        ( ),  Frithiof,  Frithiof !  Is  it  thus  we  part? 
Hast  thou  not  any  friendly  glance  to  give 
Thy  childhood's  sweetheart,  and  no  hand  to  reach 
To  the  unhappy  one  thou  once  didst  love? 
Believest  thou  I  stand  on  roses  here, 

355         And  turn  away  with  smiles  my  soul's  delight, 
And  painless  cast  from  my  devoted  breast 
A  hope  that  hand  in  hand  grew  with  my  life? 
Ah!  wert  not  thou  my  heart's  bright  morning  dream? 
Each  joy  e'er  known  to  me  was  Frithiof  called. 

360        And  all  in  life  that  great  or  worthy  seemed 
Took  on  thy  countenance  before  mine  eye. 
O,  darken  not  that  image  in  my  mind; 
Nor  coldly  meet  the  weak  one  yielding  up 
All  that  was  dearest  in  the  round  of  earth, 

365         All  that  will  dearest  be  in  Valhall's  realm! 
That  sacrifice,  O  Frithiof,  is  enough, 
And  surely  one  consoling  word  deserves. 
I  know  thou  lovest  me,  have  known  it  well 
E'er  since  existence  first  began  to  dawn; 

370        And  surely  will  my  memory  follow  thee 

Through  many  a  year  wherever  thou  mayst  roam. 
Biit  clang  of  warriors'  arms  doth  grief  benumb. — 
Upon  the  wild  waves  it  is  blown  away, 
Nor  dares  to  sit  upon  the  champions'  bench 

37.")         Beside  the  drinking-horn  of  victory. 

Yet  now  and  then,  when  in  the  calm  of  night 

Thy  memory  returns  to  vanished  days, 
140 


Amidst  them  will  an  image  pale  appear; 

Thou  know'st  it  well;  it  bears  thee  greeting  fond 

From  regions  well  beloved;  it  is  the  form  380 

( )f  the  pale  maid  in  Balder's  sacred  grove. 

Thou  must  not  banish  it  away,  although 

Its  look  be  sorrowful ;  but  whisper  thou 

A  friendly  word  into  its  ear;  night-winds 

On  ever  faithful  wings  will  bear  it  me, —  385 

One  consolation, — I  have  none  beside! 

For  me  is  naught  that  mitigates  my  woe; 

Its  voice  in  all  things  round  me  may  be  heard 

The  lofty  temple-vaults  speak  but  of  thee; 

The  god's*  own  face,  which  should  be  menacing,  390 

Assumes  thy  features  in  the  moon's  pale  light. 

If  o'er  the  sea  I  look,  there  plowed  thy  keel 


Its  foamy  way  toward  loved  one  on  the  shore ; 

If  toward  the  grove  I  gaze,  stands  many  a  trunk 

With  runes*  of  Ingeborg  carved  in  the  bark.  395 

Now  grows  the  bark,  my  name  is  worn  away, — 

And  that,  the  saga  says,  foretokens  death. 

I  ask  the  day  where  last  he  looked  on  thee, — 

*A  pine-carved  statue  of  Balder  stood  outside  the  temple. 
■(■Initials. 

141 


I  ;isk  the  night, —  but  both  ;ire  silent  still; 

4(H)  The  sea  itself,  that  bears  thee,  makes  reply 
Alone  with  mournful  sigh  upon  the  strand. 
With  evening's  crimson  will  1  send  to  thee 
A  greeting  when  it  darkens  o'er  thy  waves; 
And  heaven's  long  ships,  the  clouds,  shall  take  on  board 

105        A  lamentation  from  the  heart  forlorn. 
So  shall  T  sit  within  my  maiden-bower, 
Dark-clad  and  widowed  of  my  life's  delight. 
And  broken  lilies  sew  upon  the  cloth. 
Until  the  spring-time  weaves  its  tapestry 

4lo        Replete  with  fairer  lilies  o'er  my  grave. 


U5 


INGEBORGS  HARP.  ;  tlxnJhol-m 

But  when  I  take  my  harp  in  hand  to  sing 
In  somber  tones  of  my  unending  grief, 
Will  burst  the  font  of  tears  that  now  — 

FRITHIOF 

Thou  conquerest,  Bele's  daughter,  grieve  no  more! 

Forgive  mine  answer!     It  was  but  my  woe 

142 


U  '.I  ST    M  aMSTROM 


Thou  art  my  norn  propitious,   [ngeborg; 
A   noble  mind   best  teaches  what  is  best. 
The  wisdom  of  necessity  can  have 
No  better,   truer  advocate  than  thou, — 
Thou,   fairest   vala.   with   the   rosy   lips! 

i  Canto  VIII,  line  Ji8,  p.  i  \\. 


That  for  a  moment  took  the  form  of  wrath; 

This  form  it  cannot  long  prevail  to  bear. 

Thou  art  my  norn  propitious,  Ingeborg; 

A  noble  mind  best  teaches  what  is  best. 

The  wisdom  of  necessity  can  have  42h 

No  better,  truer  advocate  than  thou, — 

Thou,  fairest  vala.  with  the  rosy  iips! 

Yea,  I  will  yield  me  to  necessity. 

From  thee  will  part,  but  never  from  my  hope; 

I  bear  it  with  me  o'er  the  Western  wave.  425 

I  bear  it  with  me  to  the  gates  of  death. 

The  earliest  spring  shall  find  me  here  again; 

King  Helge  shall  behold  me  yet  once  more. 

I  shall  have  kept  my  vow,  done  his  demand, 

Likewise  atoned  the  offense  upon  me  laid.  430 

Then  will  I  ask,  nay.  then  demand  thy  hand, 

In  open  council,  mid  the  gleaming  arms, 

Not  of  king  Helge,  but  the  Northland's  state: — 

That  is  thy  guardian,  O  royal  child! 

I  have  a  word  for  him  who  yields  thee  not.  435 

Till  then,  farewell:  be  true,  forget  not  me, 

And  take,  in  memory  of  our  childhood's  love, 

My  arm-ring  here,  a  beauteous  Vaulund  work,* 

With  heaven's  wonders  all  engraved  in  gold; — 

(The  best  of  wonders  is  a  constant  heart); —  440 

How  fitting  gleams  it  on  thy  snow-white  arm, 

A  glow-worm  twined  around  the  lily's  stem! 

Farewell,  my  bride,  beloved  one.  farewell! 

A  few  short  months  a  mighty  change  will  yield. 

(He  departs.) 

INGEBORG 

How  glad,  how  daring,  how  inspired  with  hope!  445 

*See  pp.  70  and  71.     Vaulund's   works    outnumbered   those   of  any   other  artisan. 
Among  them  was  the  sword  of  Sigurd  Fafnersbane  that  dealt  swift  death  to  the   dragon. 

143 


Against  the  breast  of  norn  he  sets  the  point 

Of  his  good  sword,  commanding:     "Thou  shalt  yieldl" 

Oh,  my  poor  Frithiof,  never  yields  the  norn, 

Nor  turns  she,  but  at  Angurvadel  laughs.* 

450       How  little  knowest  thou  my  brother  dark! 
Thy  frank,  heroic  spirit  fathoms  not 
The  hidden  depths  of  his,  nor  apprehends 
The  hate  that  burns  within  his  envious  heart. 
His  sister's  hand  he  ne'er  to  thee  will  give; 

455        Nay,  rather  would  he  yield  his  crown  and  life, 
And  sacrifice  me  on  old  Oden's  shrine, 
Or  give  me  to  old  King  whom  now  he  fights ! 
Where'er  I  look,  no  hope  for  me  is  found; 
Yet  am  I  glad  hope  dwells  within  thy  breast. 

460        I'll  hold  my  sorrow  in  my  secret  heart, 
But  may  the  good  gods  ever  thee  attend! 
Here  on  thine  arm-ring  may  be  counted  up 
Each  separate  month  of  long  protracted  woe: 
In  two,  four,  six, — then  thou  mayst  come  again, 

465        But  nevermore  wilt  find  thine  Ingeborg. 

*  "No  one  lives  till  eve  against  the  norns'  decree."— The  Lay  of  Hamder. 


144 


(Tanlo  $ftnth. 


Ingeborg  watches  the  vanishing  sail  of  Kllida,  bearing  Frithiof 
far  over  the  tempestuous  Autumn  waves,  until  it  disappears  in  the 
evening  West,  and  the  stars  look  forth  on  high.  Xo  ray  of  light 
falls  upon  her  soul. 

Her  lover  is  gone;  and  from  a  heart  worn  with  long-suppressed 
anguish,  she  pours  out  this  lamentation  of  hopelessness,  and  tells 
to  Frithiof's  pet  hawk,  which  has  perched  upon  her  shoulder,  the 
message  to  be  whispered  to  the  wanderer  on  his  return,  after  she 
h(  rseli  can  see  him  no  more.  And  the  hawk  (Canto  x)  executes  her 
command. 

\.t  more  desolate  is  the  night  song  of  Colma,  upon  the  hill  of 
storms,  when  she  finds  on  the  heath  the  forms  of  her  brother  and 
of  her  lover.  Salgar.  who  have  slain  each  other.  "I  sit  in  my  grief; 
I  wait  for  morning  in  my  tears!  Rear  the  tomb,  ye  friends  of  the 
(.lose  it  not  till  Colma  come.  My  life  flies  away  like  a 
dream:  why  should  I  stay  behind?  Here  shall  I  rest  with  my 
friends  by  the  stream  of  the  sounding  rock.  When  night  comes  on 
the  hill;  when  the  loud  winds  arise;  my  ghost  shall  stand  in  the 
blast,  and  mourn  the  death  of  my  friends."  It  is  Ossian  who  has 
spi  iki  11 . 

The  sorrowing  surges  sounding  upon  the  strand  make  fitting 
harmony  for  Ingeborg's  despair.  Both  come  in  fitful  dashes,  in 
1.  mger  and  snorter  undulations,  as  pictured  by  the  great  poet  in  the 
dash  of  the  unusual  meter.  In  the  pause  necessitated  by  the  rhythm 
at  the  end  of  each  short  line,  there  is  the  repose  of  despair. 


146 


IX. 
3)ttivbnriVs    iuamrtttattmt. 

Autumn  is  here  ! 
Wild  heaves  the  bosom  of  ocean  so  drear! 
Ah!  better  far   were  my  pillow 

Out  on  yon  billow! 

i47 


Long  did  I  gaze 

After  his  sail  in  the  eventide's  rays; 
Ah!     Blest  the  bark  by  whose  motion 
He  rides  the  ocean. 

(Canto  IX, 
r48 


KM  I    KKWAIJi 


p.    149- 


''  rv*&£. 


**"? 


IF? 


Long  did  I  gaze  2 

After  his  sail  in  the 

eventide's  rays; 
Ah!  Blest  the  bark  by 

whose  motion 
He  rides  the  ocean! 

Billows,  ye  bine. 
Swell  not  so   high!  Would  ye 

swifter  he  flew? 
Stars,  o'er  the  sailor  gleam 
brightly, 
Guiding  him  nightly. 

At  Springtime's  call  4 

He  will  return :  but  in  dale 

or  in  hall 
Ne'er  may  his  loving  one 
meet  him. 
Eager  to  greet  him 

Pallid  and  cold.  5 

Lies  she  of  love  in  th<- 

sepulcher's  mould; 
Or,  doomed  by  brothers 
to  languish, 
Droops  she  in  anguish 


Hawk,  Frithiof's  own,* 
Thou  shalt  be  mine:  I  will  love  thee  so  lone; 
I,  winged  hunter,  will  feed  thee 

For  him  who  freed  thee. 


♦Three  faithful  friends  of  Frithiof  also  dwelt  at  Framnas,— his  white  hawk,  his 
•white  steed  and  his  shaggy  hound. 

149 


Here,  on  his  hand,* 
Thee  -will  I  weave  in  the  tapestry's  strand. 
Pinions  of  silver  will  furnish, 

Golden  claws  burnish. 


FREYA  AND  THE  DWARFS- 


8  Freya,  one  time, 

"With  a  hawk's  wings  toured  each  country  and  clime. 
Seeking,  neath  all  heaven's  cover, 
Oder,*  her  lover. 

*"The  ancient  English  illuminators  have  uniformly  distinguished  the  portrait  of 
King  Stephen  by  giving  him  a  hawk  upon  his  hand,  to  signify,  I  presume,  by  that  sym- 
bol, that  he  was  nobly  though  not  royally  born."  — Strutt. 

tFreya  wears  always  the  gorgeous  necklace  Brisingamen,  wrought  by  four  of  the 
most  skillful  dwarfs  in  their  subterranean  work-shop,  and  containing  the  most  rare  and 
costly  jewels  of  the  earth,  dazzling  to  the  eye,  and  glittering  as  the  sun. 

For  this  wonderful  jewel  the  dwarfs  required  and  received  only  the  favor  of  the 
goddess;  but  stirred  by  jealousy,  Oder  (or  Oedur),  Freya's  husband,  left  her  and  went  tc 
far-off  lands. 

She  wept  continually  tear-drops  of  pure  gold,  so  that  gold  was  called  Freya's 
tears."  All  the  trees  moaned  and  the  flowers  wept  with  her.  The  long  winter  passed  in 
loneliness  and  grief.  When  spring  came,  she  assumed  the  falcon's,  wings,  flew  over 
many  lands,  and  finally  found  her  lover  in  the  clime  where  bloom  the  cypress  and  myrtle. 

Her  tears  and  her  long  journey  seemed  to  re  inspire  his  love.  He  returned  with 
her  to  their  Northern  home,  where  the  birds  sang  choruses  of  welcome.  With  all  her 
devotion  Freya  endeavored  to  hold  the  heart  of  Oder;  but  when  the  summer  was  over,  he 
it  parted  again  to  distant  lands,  never  to  return. 

'<>.!<  i .  the  s,,i,use  of  Freya.  is  merely  another  name  for  Oden,  in  his  character  of  the 
sun.  This  most  beautiful  allegory  expresses  the  yearning  and  sorrow  of  Nature  over  the 
departed  Sun:  — the  very  color  of  her  tears  supplying  an  allusion  to  the  golden  ray.'' 

rco  — Geiger. 


IUGUSI    MALMSTROJI 

Hunter-bird  brave, 
Sit  "ii  niv  shoulder  and  look  o'er  the   wave. 
Ah!     Paint  we,  ^a/.in^  and  yearning, 

Kre  his  returning. 

Canto  IX,   v.    10,  p.    152.  1 


Hhtgfbiirg'ii  ICcmuuitatuut. 


Shaw's  Translation. 


lhiirr. 


yiann. 


r^HV 


7/    *  >•* — ^ — ^ 


*    +    +   *—*- 


^=^ 


"    "     *     > 


Wild  heaves  tlie  bo  -  sora    of     o      ceau  so      drear'     Ah!  Sweeter  far  were  my 


*  -       *7 


pil    -      low       Out  on    yon  bil      -     low! 


«*" 


\S^E=£ 


S3?*      ^ 


-» V+-Z?- 


*■     r 


'  '**. 


Is 


S 


i 


£3Ef» 


=i 


9  Ah !  Couldst  thou  lend 

Thy  wings,  with  them  could  no  mortal  ascend; 
Death  alone  power  shall  be  bringing 
For  ceaseless  winging. 

10  Hunter-bird  brave, 

Sit  on  my  shoulder  and  look  o'er  the  wave! 
Ah!  Faint  we,  gazing  and  yearning. 
Ere  his  returning. 

11  When  I  am  dead, 

And  he  returns,  speak  the  words  I  have  said; 
Greet,  at  each  coming  to-morrow. 
Frithiof  in  sorrow ! 


tllL 

m 


'52 


INGEBORG  BY  THE  SEA. 


(Hantn  Setttb. 


Although  Helge  had  no  thought  of  Frithiof's  being  able  to  exact 
the  tribute-money  from  Angantyr,  he  still  had  no  intention  to  allow 
this  long  voyage  ever  to  be  completed.  Hence  he  death-designingly 
invokes  the  aid  of  two  sorceresses,  as  thus  narrated  in  the  ancient 
Saga:  "After  this,  they  (  Helge  and  Halfdan)  sent  for  two  witches. 
Heide  and  Hamglamu,  and  gave  them  presents  that  they  should 
send  such  a  horrible  tempest  against  Frithiof  and  his  followers, 
that  they  should  all  perish  in  the  sea.  The  hags  accordingly  prac- 
ticed all  their  witchcraft,  and  went  up  to  a  high  place  with  many  im- 
precations and  incantations.  When  witches  should  spae  mysteries 
or  imprecate  curses  on  their  enemies,  a  lofty  Sitting-place  was  con- 
structed, of  which  they  took  possession  with  many  magical  cere- 
monies " 

A  tempest  of  unparalleled  furv,  falling  upon  the  ship,  threatens 
instant  destruction.  Frithiof,  perceiving  death  is  on  board,  even 
breaks  in  pieces  a  golden  bracelet  and  distributes  among  his  cham- 
pions, that  none  may  go  down  empty-handed  to  the  else  unpro- 
pitiated  sea-goddess  Rana. 

But  the  almost  human  Ellida.  responsive  to  her  master's  com- 
mand,  rearing  drives  the  lances  of  her  prow  into  the  heart  of  the 
demon-whale,  and  Frithiof's  javelins  pierce  the  horrible  goblins 
whose  forms  the  Protean  witches  had  assumed  for  t lie  perturbation 
both  of  air  and  of  ocean;  and  instantly  the  spell  is  dissolved,  the 
sun  reappears;  and  though  exhausted  and  undone,  the  sailors 
finally  reach  the  haven  of  Angantyr's  dominions. 

The  roll  of  the  awful  undulations,  the  fitful  breaking  of  waves 
over  the  lurching  vessel,  and  the  "downfall  of  the  sky"  as  Virgil 
might  term  it,  the  poet  has  here  portrayed  by  the  varied  meter,  with 
the  skill  and  felicity  of  the  bard  of  Mantua. 


^^ 


1-4 


if  rttluuf  mt  the  ©rean. 

jfiiY  the  ocean  stood  1 

Helge,  King,  and  prayed 

In  embittered  mood 
For  the  goblins'  aid.* 


*The  belief  in  sorcery  was  then  very  general.     Brynhild  thus  speaks  to  Sigurd: 
"Would  the  chief  in  arras  excel.  On  the  hilt  that  girds  thy  side. 

Ruues  of  conquest  read  thou  well.         On  thy  war  spear's  bristled  oak. 
Graven  ou  thy  gauntlet's  hide,  Twice  the  mighty  Tyr  invoke." 

Sir  Thomas  Brown,  at  a  trial  for  witchcraft  in  1664,  testified  against  two  poor  women. 
Sir  Matthew  Hale  condemned  supposed  criminals  to  be  burned  at  the  stake  for  this  cause. 
Mackay  states  that  in  the  seventeenth  century  40,000  persons  were  burned  in  Englan  ', 
alone  for  this  imaginary  crime.  Thorodd.  in  the  Eyrbyggja  Saga  of  ancient  Iceland. 
through  jealousy  employed  a  sorceress  to  stir  up  a  mighty  tempest  to  destroy  Biorn  ou 
his  way  to  visit  Thurida. 

"Bv  changing  forms  with  her,  a  sorceress  occupied  for  three  day-  the  place  of  Signy, 
the  wife  of  Siggeir.  king  of  Gothland.— Volsunga  Saga. 

"Oden  was  the  inventor  of  the  ruues,  and  was  skilled  in  their  employment  for  the 
working  of  magic.  The  runic  characters  were  distinguished  in  various  kinds:  as  nox- 
ious, or  bitter  runes,  employed  to  bring  evils  upon  enemies;  the  favorable  averted  mis 
fortunes;  the  victorious  procured  conquest  to  those  who  used  them;  the  medicinal  were 
inscribed  on  the  leaves  of  trees  for  healing;  others  served  to  disperse  melancholy 
thoughts;  to  prevent  shipwreck;  were  antidotes  against  poison.  *  *  *  *  All  these 
various  kinds  differed  only  in  the  ceremonies  observed  in  writing  them,  in  the  materials 
on  which  they  were  written,  in  the  place  where  they  were  exposed,  in  the  manner  in 
which  the  lines  were  drawn,  whether  in  the  form  of  a  circle,  serpent  or  triangle,  etc." — 
Northern  Antiquities. 

In  i691,  nineteen  persons  were  hanged  for  witchcraft  in  Salem,  Mass. 

'55 


Heaven  its  head  in  darkness  pillows, — 

Thunders  shake  the  hollow  dome ! 
O'er  the  ocean  boil  the  billows, 

And  its  face  is  veiled  with  foam! 
Lightnings  through  the  skies  are  streaming 

With  their  red  lines,  o'er  and  o'er; 
All  the  sea-birds  wildly  screaming, 

Swiftly  fleeing,  seek  the  shore. 

"Fierce  the  weather,  brothers!* 
Pinions  of  the  tempest 
Flutter  in  the  distance, 
But  we  grow  not  pale. 
Silent  in  the  forest, 
Think  of  me  with  longing, — 
Beauteous  with  thy  tear-drops, 
Beauteous  Ingeborg."' 


On  Ellida's  stem 

Two  imps  warfare  made; 
One  was  wind-cold  Ham, — + 

One  was  snow-white  Hejd  + 

Loosed,  the  wings  of  tempest  lowering 
Strive  the  vessel  to  immerge 

In  the  deep, — or  overpowering. 
Toward  the  home  of  gods  to  urge. 

All  the  powers  of  ill  are  gliding 
O'er  the  foamy  billows'  crest, 

From  unfathomed  graves  up-riding 

Neath  the  shoreless  ocean's  breast. 


*Frithiof  keeps  singing  cheery  strains,  to  sustain  the  courage  of  his  men. 

+The  names  of  the  goblins,  whose  assistance  Helge  had  invoked  against  Frithiof. 

The  word  "Ham"  signifies  form,  figure, — and  the  witches  and  trolls  possessed  the 
Protean  power  in  a  high  degree.  The  name  "Hejd"  is  often  applied  to  enchantresses  in 
general.  1 56 


"Fairer  was  the  voyage 
In  the  moonlight's  shimmer 
( )"(']•  the  mirrored  waters 
Unto  Balder's  grove 
Warmer  than  the  tempest 
Ingeborg's  affection; 
Whiter  than  the  sea-spray 
Heaved  her  bosom  fair." 


Now  Solundar's  isle*  7 

Through  the  wave  grows  clear; 

Calmer  seas  there  smile, — 
To  its  haven  steer! 

But  the  viking,  seaward  rocking,  8 

Better  trusts  his  faithful  oak; 
At  the  rudder  stands  he,  mocking 

All  the  threatening  tempest's  shock. 
Firmer  he  the  canvas  fastens, 

Sharper  now  he  cuts  the  sea; 
Swiftly  hastens,  westward  hastens, 

Where  the  winds  bear  ceaslessly. 

"Let  me  yet  a  season  9 

Strive  against  the  tempest; 

Storm  and  Northern  sailor 

Thrive  upon  the  wave. 

Ingeborg  would  color, 

If  her  ocean-eagle 

With  slack  wings  should  nutter 

Landward  at  a  blast."' 

*One  of  a  group  of  small  islands  opposite  the  mouth  of  Sogne  Fjord,  of  which  the 
two  extreme  ones  are  Yttre  Sulen  and  Indre  Sulen  (Outer  and  Inner  Sulen),  and  which 
have  mountains  of  about  1800  feet  in  height.  These  islands  break  the  force  of  the  ocean 
storms,  and  with  the  mainland  enclose  the  little  sea  of  Sogn.     See  map  of  Norway. 

157 


10 


Now  the  waves  have  grown, 
Troughs  are  deepening  still; 

Winds  in  cordage  moan, 
Creaks  the  lurching  keel. 


11  Yet  however  wild  may  wrestle 

Driving  or  retarding  waves 
O'er  Ellida,  god-built  vessel, 

She  their  threatening  onset  braves. 
As  a  meteor  that  nightly 

Sweepeth,  bounds  she  on  in  bliss,— 
Like  a  mountain-buck  that  lightly 

Leapeth  crag  and  deep  abyss. 


12 


BALDER"  S  STRAND. 


"Better  was  it  kissing 
Bride  in  Balder  s  temple, 
Than  this  salt-foam  tasting 
As  anon  it  drives! 

158 


Better  was  it  clasping 
Waist  of  royal  daughter, 
Than  to  stand  here  clutching 
Fast  this  rudder-bar! " 


Mist,  by  cold  congealed,  13 

Snows  from  icy  sky; 
Striking  deck  and  shield, 

Showers  of  hail-stones  fly. 


U 


O'er  the  vessel's  spars  and  timber 

Broods  impenetrable  night; 
It  is  dark  as  is  the  chamber 

Where  the  dead  is  laid  from  sight, 
Waves  appeaseless,  demon-lifted, 

Threaten  death  to  seamen  brave; 
Gray-white,  as  with  ashes  sifted, 

Yawns  one  vast,  unbounded  grave! 


"Rana*  lays  blue  pillows  15 

For  us  in  the  ocean; 

But  thy  sweeter  lulling 

Waits  me,  Ingeborg. 

Boatmen  good  are  plying 

Oars  of  strong  Ellida; 

Keel  that  gods  have  builded 

Bears  us  yet  awhile.'* 


O'er  the  starboard  side  16 

Now  a  billow  leaps; 
In  a  glance,  the  tide 

Clear  the  ship's  deck  sweeps. 


*The  ocean  is  "Ran's  palace;"  a  ship,  "Rail's  horse"     She  has  a  net  in  which  she 
catches  all  who  perish  on  the  sea. 

159 


17 


18 


From  the  arm  it  was  adorning 

Frithiof  draws  a  golden  ring. 
Bright  as  sun  in  dews  of  morning, — 

Gift  to  him  from  Bele,  King: 
Breaks  the  ring  in  many  pieces 

(By  the  dwarfs*  art  was  it  wrought), 
Gives  each  man  a  piece,  nor  ceases 

To  the  last,  no  man  forgot. 


AGIR  AND  RANA. 

"Gold  is  good  possession 
On  a  wooing  journey; 
Go  not  empty-handed 
Down  to  sea-blue  Ran.* 
Turns  she  cold  from  kisses. 
Flies  from  all  embraces; 
But  we  win  the  sea-bride 
With  our  burning  gold."' 


•  '  It  was  not  well  to  come  empty-handed  to  tin-  halls  of  Ranand  Agir."— Anim.rson. 
In  their  halls  gold  was  substituted  for  fire. 

160 


With  a  menace  new  19 

Falls  the  tempest  hard, 
Bursts  the  canvas  through, 

Snaps  in  twain  the  yard. 

Coursing  on  with  mighty  motion,  20 

Billows  whelm  the  half-drowned  ship; 
Baling  lessens  not  the  ocean 

That  the  strenuous  sailors  dip. 
Frithiof  can  ignore  no  longer 

That  he  beareth  death  on  board. 
Yet  than  billows'  voices  stronger 

Soundeth  his  commanding  word: 

"Bjorn,  attend  the  rudder, —  21 

Grasp  it  with  a  bear's  paw!* 

Such  commotion  never 

Sends  Valhalla  down! 

Witchcraft  rules  our  voyage; 

Craven  Helge  doubtless 

Conjured  it  o'er  ocean; — 

Swift  I'll  mount,  and  see!" 


Marten-like  he  flew1"  22 

Up  the  sail-less  mast, — 
Far  above  the  crew 

Gazed  o'er  waters  vast. 

Look!    Before  Ellida,  gliding  23 

Like  a  floating  isle,  a  whale, — 
And  two  odious  goblins  riding 

On  his  back  in  furious  gale: — - 

*  A  pun.    Bjorn  is  the  Swedish  for  "bear." 

tBuffon  says  the  pine-marteu  usurps  the  nests  of  the  wood-pecker,  squirrel  and 
buzzard. 

161 


fffrmi* 


Hejd  a  snowy  hide  betrayeth. 

Like  a  Northern  bear  in  form; — 
Hani  his  waving  wings  displayeth, 

Like  an  eagle  in  a  storm. 

"Now,  Ellida,  hear  me!  24 

Show  if  in  thy  steel-bound 

Rounded  oaken  bosom 

Burns  the  hero-fire! 

To  my  mandate  harken: 

If  of  gods  the  daughter, 

Rise!  With  keel  of  copper 

Pierce  the  spell-charmed  whale!" 


And  Ellida  hears  25 

Frithiof's  will  expressed; — 
With  a  bound  she  steers 

Toward  the  monster's  breast.* 

Quirk  a  crimson  current  driveth  26 

From  a  death-wound,  skyward  thrown; 
And  the  transfixed  fiend  now  diveth 

To  the  sea-depths  with  a  groan. 
Now  two  spears  the  hero  centers, — 

At  each  goblin  aims  a  dart; 
One  the  Ice-bear' s+  bosom  enters, 

One,  the  black  Storm-eagle's*  heart. 

"Well  achieved,  Ellida!  27 

Not  so  soon  emerges 
Dragon-ship  of  Helge 
From  the  bloody  mire! 

♦Bear  in  mind  that  Kllida  was  gifted  with  the  uushiplike  power  of   understanding- 
and  executing  every  order  gi%-en  by  her  master. 
+Hejd.      tHam.  1 63 


Hejd  and  Ham  no  longer 
Dominate  the  ocean; 
Bitter  is  the  biting 
Of  the  dark-blue  steel." 


28  Now  the  storm  has  flown, 

Sea  and  sky  are  clear; 
And  the  swell  alone 
Laves  the  island  near. 

29  Quick  the  sun  unveiled  now  tread*  th 

Like  a  monarch  in  his  hall; 
And  his  light  and  gladness  spreadeth 

Over  sea,  hill,  valley,  all. 
Now  his  Western  rays  declining 

Have  both  crag  and  forest  crowned,- 
And  the  sailors  by  his  shining 

See  the  shores  of  Efje  Sound.* 

30  "Ingeborg,  pale  maiden, 
Prayers  hath  sent  to  Valhall; 
On  the  golden  altar 

She  hath  bent  the  knee. 
Tears  in  eyes  of  azure, 
Sighs  in  breast  of  swan's-down, 
Moved  the  hearts  of  asas; — 
Let  us  give  them  thanks!" 


31  But  Ellida's  prow, 

Injured  by  the  whale, 
Is  reposing  now, 
Worn  by  furious  gale. 


At  the  Orkney  Islands.  These  islands  long  belonged  to  Scandinavia  "They  were 
a  favorite  resort  with  sea-rovers,  who  found  there  a  secure  rendezvous  during  the  innavi- 
gable season." — Strong.  i6a 


32 


Yet  more  worn,  from  storm  and  water, 

Frith iof's  men  the  shore  have  gained; 
And  they  move  with  steps  that  totter, 

Scarcely  by  their  swords  sustained. 
Bjorn  on  mighty  shoiilders  beareth 

Four  of  them  from  boat  to  land; 
Frithiof  eight  to  carry  dareth, — 

Sots  them  round  a  glowing  brand. 


SCANDINAVIAN  MEAD-HORN  AND  LUR  (TRUMPET). 

33  "Blush  ye  not,  0  pale  ones! 

Waves  are  mighty  vikings; 
Hard  it  is  to  battle 
With  the  ocean's  maids. 
Lo!  There  comes  the  mead-horn, 
Borne  on  footsteps  golden; 
Frozen  limbs  it  warmeth, — 
Sko;il  to  Ingeborg!" 


i6f> 


(Eatttfl  iElmtttlj. 


But  Atle  (viking  and  berserk),  brutally  challenges  Frithiof's 
further  advance  toward  Augantyr's  court,  and  there  ensues  a  battle 
"known  through  all  the  Northland,"  in  which  the  valiant  Frithiof 
is  both  victorious  and  merciful.     The  foe  is  spared. 

Friendly  they  pass  to  the  hall,  where  Earl  Augantyr,  friend  of 
Frithiof's  father,  gives  the  son  a  sincere  and  royal  welcome,  with 
banquet  and  the  strains  of  Morven  bard  and  Northern  skald.  Then 
says  Angantyr:  "I  have  never  paid  tribute;  but  for  the  help  which 
Thorsteu  and  Bele  rendered  me  when  I  needed  it,  it  was  my  custom 
to  send  them  annually  a  gift  from  my  treasury.  Thou,  Frithiof, 
the  son,  art  entitled  to  a  like  gift."  So  what  might  have  been 
an  enforced  demand  became  a  voluntary  gift;  for  Angantyr  gave 
him  a  purse  filled  with  gold,  and  extended  the  luxurious  hospitality 
of  his  court  to  Frithiof  and  his  champions,  bidding  them  winter 
with  him  as  guests. 

Frithiof  was  eager  to  return.  He  must  flyback  to  Norway,  justi- 
fied, in  time  to  vanquish  King  Ring,  and  claim  his  faithful  bride!  But 
Kllida  must  be  repaired,  so  fierce  had  been  the  tempests ;  great  ice- 
bergs from  the  Arctic  also  made  his  return  perilous,  yea,  impos- 
sible. His  acceptance  of  the  Jarl's  invitation  thus  was  necessitated. 
Frithiof's  heart  was  far  away.  Dark  forebodings  hung  over  him. 
Yet  he  endeavored  to  pass  this  enforced  visit  in  what  mental  quiet- 
ude was  possible,  suppressing  the  anguish  of  restlessness  that  re- 
fused to  be  banished :  and  all  the  long  winter  Frithiof  and  his  com- 
rades remained  guests  of  the  friendly  Angantyr. 


1 68 


Jflrttljtflf  witlj  Attgmttyr. 

Vl/IS  now  to  be  explaining 

How  Angantyr,  grown  old, 
In  fir-wood  hall  sat  draining 

His  glass  with  warriors  bold. 
Out  o'er  the  blue  wave's  motion 

His  glad  eye  wandered  on 
Where  dipped  the  sun  in  ocean, 

As  dips  a  golden  swan! 


His  watch  old  Halvar  keepeth, 

A  faithful  sentinel; 
He  ne'er  from  duty  sleepeth. 

But  guards  his  mead  as  well. 
169 


A  custom  never  broken 

Was  his:  his  mead  he  quaffed, 
And,  ere  a  word  was  spoken, 

Dipped  up  another  draught. 

Tossing  his  mead  horn  yellow 

Far  in  the  hall,  he  said: 
"A  ship  rides  o'er  the  billow, 

Its  voyage  is  not  glad! 
Behold  I  men  death-wearied, 

They  anchor  on  the  strand; 
Two  giants  now  have  carried 

The  pale  forms  to  the  land!" 

Then  o'er  the  water's  mirror 

Jarl*  Angantyr  looked  forth : 
"Ellida  ne'er  showed  clearer, 

With  Frithiof  of  the  North. 
The  step  and  brow  of  father 

In  Thorsten's  son  I  see; 
For  glanceth  not  another 

In  Northern  lands  as  he." 

From  drinking-board,  all  ruddy 
Sprang  Atle,  Viking-son, 

Black-bearded  berserk,+  bloody 
And  grim  to  look  upon. 


*K,arl.     For  Angantyr's  history,  see  note,  Canto  viii,  p.  130. 

+An  unarmored  champion,  who  went  to  battle  with  loud  war-cries,  "said  to  have 
been  possessed  of  preternatural  strength  and  extreme  ferocity."  The  berserk  (or  ber- 
serker) was  the  embodiment  of  martial  frenzy,  frequently  losing  all  sense  of  danger 
Thi-  frenzy  was  sometimes  assumed,  and  sometimes,  perhaps  more  frequently,  main 
fested  itself  as  genuine  madness.  Then  in  fury  uncontrolled  he  would  attack  indiscrim- 
inately friend  or  foe,  objects  animate  or  inanimate ;  and  even  chains,  as  Saxo  Grammati 
cus  states,  could  scarcely  restrain  him. 

In  the  Ynglinga  Saga,  we  read:  His  (Oden  s)  men  rushed  forward  without  mail, 
and  wen  mad  as  dogs  or  wolves,  and  bit  upon  their  shields,  and  were  as  strong  as  bears 
or  bulls.     Men  they  slew,  and  neither  fire  nor  iron  laid  hold  upon  them." 

170 


"Not  long  shall  it  be  hidden," 

He  shrieked,  "if  it  be  true 
That  Frithiof  swords  can  deaden,* 

And  ne'er  for  peace  will  sue!" 

With  Atle,  who  advances,  6 

His  warriors  twelve  spring  fierce; 

Swinging  their  swords  and  lances, 
The  air  they  proving  pierce: 

They  storm  the  strand,  united, 
Where  lies  the  dragon  worn; 

But  Frithiof,  ne'er  affrighted, 
Sits  on  the  sand  in  scorn. 

&g?  "Though  easy  I  could  fell  thee," 

Was  Atle's  boastful  cry, 
"The  choice  is  thine,  I  tell  thee, 

To  battle  or  to  fly! 
But  if  for  peace  thou  pleadest, 

Then  I,  though  warrior  hard, 
Will,  as  the  friend  thou  needest, 

Conduct  thee  to  my  lord." 

"Though  wearied  by  my  journey,"     E 

Doth  Frithiof  wrathful  say, 
"We  still  with  swords  will  tourney. 

Ere  I  for  peace  shall  pray." 
The  flashing  steel  now  showeth 

Of  sun-brown  champion  young; 
Each  fiery  rune  now  gloweth 

On  Angurvadel's  tongue !+ 


per."-STRONG. 


9  Alternate  thrusts  are  given, — 

Death-strokes  like  hail-stones  blend! 
The  shields  of  both  are  riven. 

And  to  the  ground  descend. 
Each  champion  faultless  flghteth, 

Beyond  the  ring  ne'er  sent; 
But  Angurvadel  biteth, 

And  Atle's  sword  is  rent. 

10  "Of  fame  I  scorn  such  measure 

As  slays  a  swordless  man; 
But  if  it  be  thy  pleasure, 

Prove  we  another  plan." 
Like  autumn  waves  contended 

The  wrestling  foes  unarmed, 
By  mail-coats  well  defended, 

To  close-hand  combat  warmed. 

11  Like  bears  upon  their  mountain 

Of  snow,  they  strive  with  might; 
Like  eagles  o'er  the  fountain 

Of  wrathful  seas,  they  fight. 
Such  mighty  onset  shaking 

Should  move  the  root-fast  rock; 
And  e'en  the  iron-oak  quaking 

Would  sway  at  lesser  shock. 

12  Sweat  from  their  brows  now  rushes, 

Their  cold  chests  rise  and  fall ; 
And  stones  and  mounds  and  bushes 
Bear  marks  of  combat  all.* 

*  Subsequently  the  name  berserk  (or  berserker)  seems  to  have  been  applieil  to  fa- 
mous champions  retained  as  body-guard  to  the  sovereign. 

In  process  of  civilization,  the  word,  once  a  title  of  honor,  became,  as  it  is  employed 
by  Frithiof,  a  term  of  reproach."  —  Stronc;. 

172 


KMT    KKU'Al  I. 

Like  bears  upon  their  mountain 
Of  snow,  they  strive  with  might; 
Like  eagles  o'er  the  fountain 
Of  wrathful  seas,  they  fi.uht. 

(Canto  XI,   v.    II,   p.    172.) 
173 


The  champions  all,  steel -coated, 
Watch  trembling,  on  the  strand, 

This  wrestling  contest  noted 

Through  all  the  Northern  land. 

13  To  Frithiof  it  was  granted 

To  bring  his  foe  to  earth; 
With  knee  on  breast  then  planted, 

He  poured  his  anger  forth: 
"Had  I  my  sword  beside  me, 

Black-bearded  berserk-swain,* 
Its  keen  blade  should  divide  thee, 

And  out  thy  life-blood  drain!" 

14  "Let  nothing  then  deter  thee!" 

Doth  haughty  Atle  s;iy, 
"Go  bring  thy  sword  so  worthy, — 

No  power  thy  hand  shall  stay! 
Each  one  must,  as  his  brother, 

One  day  Valhalla  see; 
My  day  is  now, — another 

May  be  allowed  to  thee." 

15  Frithiof  not  long  debated, 

Prepared  to  end  the  play; 
His  sword  he  elevated, — 

But  Atle  quiet  lay. 
The  hero's  heart  was  bending, — 

His  fury  could  not  stand; 
He  turned  the  blade  impending. 

And  grasped  the  brave  man's  hand! 

'" The  Berserks  were  the  natural  excrescence-growth  of  a  period  when  force  an«J 
fight,  blood  and  brutality,  were  the  melancholy  reverse  of  the  medal  of  pirate  plunder- 
ings  "    Strong. 

174 


Halvar.  with  animation,  10 

Swung  high  his  skiff  of  white, 
And  cried:  "No  peace-potation 

( 1an  to  its  cheer  invite ! 
Long  since,  each  silver  platter 

Has  smoked  upon  the  board: 
Cold  meat  is  sorry  matter, 

And  thirst  must  be  deplored." 

Each  champion  friendly  turneth  17 

Within  the  royal  door, 
Where  Frithiof  much  discerneth 

Unseen  by  him  before: 
No  rough-planed  planks  together 

Here  clothe  the  walls  else  bare; 
But  costly  gilded  leather, 

With  fruits  and  flowers  rare. 

No  central  fire  projected  18 

Its  gleam  around  the  hall; 
But  at  the  wall  erected 

Stood  marble  fire-place  tall. 
No  smoke  was  there  permitted, 

No  soot  was  sifted  o'er: 
Glass-panes  the  windows  fitted, 

A  lock  was  on  the  door. 

And  candle-sticks  of  silver  19 

Their  arms  arc  stretching  bright. 

But  no  wood-torches  quiver,* 
The  warriors'  feast  to  light. 

*  "Formerly  young  boys  attended  with  pine  torches,  to  light  up  the  banquets  of  the 
great."— Stevens. 

See  note,  p.  46.  The  old  halls  had  a  high-seat,  or  high-chair,  like  a  throne,  at  the 
middle  of  the  Southern  wall.  Exactly  opposite  this,  on  the  North  wall,  was  another 
similar  seat,  next  lower  in  dignity. 

175 


FRITHIOF  IN  COMBAT. 


Now  to  the  board  they're  bringing 

A  larded  stag  well  browned, 
With  gold-hoof  poised  for  springing, 

And  horn-grove  leaf-becrowned. 

Each  champion's  chair  is  tended  20 

By  maiden  lily-white 
With  glance  like  ray  descended 

Of  star  through  storm-clouds'  night. 
The  auburn  locks  are  flowing, — 

Blue  eyes  reveal  their  powers; 
And  dainty  lips  are  glowing 

Like  painted  runic  flowers. 

Jarl  Angantyr  was  seated  21 

Upon  his  silver  chair; 
His  helm  the  sun  repeated, 

Of  gold  his  mail-coat  rare. 
With  star-dust  oversifted 

His  mantle  gleamed  a  gem; 
Whose  purple  border  shifted 

To  spotless  ermine  hem. 

Three  steps  the  jarl  had  taken, —  22 

Then  spoke  he,  kind  and  free, 
His  guest's  hand  having  shaken: 

''Come  hither, — sit  by  me! 
I've  emptied  horns  full  many 

With  Thorsten.  Viking's  son; 
His  son,  far-famed  as  any, 

Shall  sit  beside  my  throne."' 

"The  two  high  seat  pillars  were  usually  carved  with  images  of  the  deities.     Thors- 
ten's  hall  had  those  of  Odeit  and  Krey.     See  p.  77. 

177 


■■'  •■■■••  v1'1,  ■",:.'.'.. 


THE  HALL  OF  ANGANTYR. 


He  tills  a  cup  that  darkles  23 

With  rich  Sicilian  wine; 
Like  quickened  flame  it  sparkles, 

And  foams  as  ocean's  brine. 
"Welcome,"  the  jarl  has  spoken, 

-Son  of  my  faithful  friend; 
To  pledge  thy  sire  this  token. 

Our  eager  voices  blend!" 

A  skald  from  MorvenV   mountains  24 

Then  wakes  the  harp-tone  strong, 
While  springs  from  Gaelic  fountains 

The  tide  of  hero-son^. 
But  now,  in  Norse-tongue  story 

Another  voice  doth  rise. 
Proclaiming  Thorsten's  glory, 

And  wins  the  minstrel's  prize. 

The  jarl  would  fain  be  learning  -!•"> 

Of  Northern  kinsmen  dear; 
And  Frithiof  e'er  was  earning 

A  name  for  wisdom  clear. 
For  never  gave  he  token 

That  thoughts  unjust  were  his.— 
His  words,  like  Saga's,  spoken 

With  sacred  memories. 

And  when  he  has  related  26 

His  triumph  in  the  gale 
I  >'er  Helge's  goblins  hated. 

And  vanquished  giant  whale. — 


*A  name  anciently  given  the  Highlands  of  Scotland.  Even  if  the  Gaelic  bard  had 
been  as  well  or  better  nnderstood  than  the  Norse  one,  the  guestship.  labors,  and  hero- 
ism of  Frithiof.  son  of  Angantyr's  friend,  would  have  insured  the  win  of  the  latter  skald. 

179 


The  champions  move  with  pleasure. 

The  jarl  his  joy  displays: 
While  all  in  echoed  measure 

Acclaim  the  hero's  praise.* 

•27  But  when  he  next  had  spoken 

Of  Ingeborg  the  fair. 
Whose  spirit,  torn  and  broken. 

Was  noble  in  despair.— 
Then  many  a  maiden  sighing 

Felt  burning  tear-drops  stand; 
And  for  her  sole  replying 

Pressed  faithful  lover's  hand. 

28  At  last  his  unique  mission 

The  youthful  guest  made  known:— 
The  jarl  gave  kind  audition. 

Then  spoke  in  quiet  tone: 
"My  land  has  freedom  boasted. — 

Tribute  we  ne'er  have  paid;+ 
King  Bele's  health  we've  toasted. 

But  ne'er  his  laws  obeyed. 

■j'.'  "His  sons  to  me  are  strangers: 

If  tribute  they  demand. 
Let  them  face  heroes'  dangers 

And  battle,  sword  in  hand! 
Our  strength  may  then  be  reckoned: 

Yet,  I  thy  sire  held  dear. — " 
His  daughter  then  he  beckoned. 

Who  by  his  throne  sat  near. 


*   'The  Saga  of  Hialrnter  and  Oelver  contains   a   very  spirited  description  of  a  con- 
t^~i  with  a  magic  whale,  which  terminates  in  itsdefeat  and  subsidence,"  — Strum . 

The   slight  discrepancy  between  Angantyr's  statement  and  the  ancient  Saga,  seems 
tn  hinge  on  the  definition  of  "tribute."  180 


Arose  that  floweret  tender  30 

From  off'  her  gold-barked  chair; 
She  seemed  of  waist  so  slender, 

Of  form  so  full  and  fair. 
And  on  her  soft  cheek  dimpled 

Sat  Astrild,*  roguish,  shy, 
As  sits  on  rose-cnp  rimpled 

The  breeze-borne  butterfly. 

Seeking  her  maiden  bower  31 

She  quick  a  purse  doth  seize 
Rich  wrought  in  green,  where  lower 

Wild  beasts  neath  woodland  trees; 
And  silver  moonlight  glimmers 

O'er  sea  of  sails  afar; 
The  clasp  with  rubies  shimmers, 

The  tassels  golden  are. 

She  gives  the  beauteous  treasure  32 

Unto  her  father  old; 
He  fills  it  with  full  measure 

Of  foreign-minted  gold. 
"This  welcome  gift  receiving, 

Use  it  as  prompts  thy  will;+ 
Stay  now,  our  faith  believing, 

And  winter  with  us  still. 

*The  Northern  god  of  Love,  corresponding  to  the  Roman  Cupid  (Amor)  and  to  the 
Greek  Eros;— the  son  of  Venus  (Aphrodite),  whose  messenger  lie  was,  as  Mercury 
(Hermes)  was  both  the  son  and  messenger  of  Jupiter. 

The  god  of  Love  was  a  winged,  chubby  child,  with  bow,  quiver  and  arrows,  some- 
times with  a  torch,  frequently  with  bandaged  eyes.  His  shafts  could  pierce  the  gods 
above  or  the  fish  below,— and  his  smile  was  not  always  free  from  malignancy. 

+  Angantyr  regarded  as  purely  voluntary  his  annual  contribution  to  the  treasury  of 
Bele's  kingdom,  ceasing  at  the  latter's  death. 

"The  jarl  said,  'A  trap  hath  King  Helge  laid  for  you,  and  such  kings  are  but  ill  es- 
teemed who  are  ready  for  nothing  but  to  cause  men  to  perish  by  witchcraft.  I  know  that 
is  thy  errand  hither,  Frithiof,  that  thou  art  sent  after  the  tribute. 

"And  answer  shalt  thou  have  to  this:  no  tribute  shall  King  Helge  have  of  nir :  but 
thou  shalt  get  as  much  treasure  as  thou  wilt,  and  tribute  mayest  thou  call  it  an  thou  wilt, 
or  some  other  name  mayest  thou  give  it.  Frithiof  said  that  he  would  take  the  money."— 
Saga  ok  Frith  ioi-  the  Bold. 

i8i 


33 


"Valor  is  e'er  prevailing, 

But  wintry  gales  are  here, 
And  Hejd  and  H;mi  are  sailing 

With  life  renewed,  I  fear. 
Ellida  not  forever 

So  light  may  skim  the  main, 
And  whales  abandon  never 

Their  wave,  though  one  be  slain." 


34 


So  round  the  guest-hall  olden 

Went  jesting  till  the  day : 
And  draughts  from  goblets  golden 

Drove  care,  not  sense,  away. 
A  skoal  of  fullest  measure 

Was  drank  the  jarl  at  last; 
And  with  some  cheer  and  pleasure 

The  winter  Frithiof  passed. 


if  riihuif  milh  Aimautyr. 


Shaw's  Translation. 


"Hutrr. 


iliano. 


jfe^TjTTfe^l 


Ang  -  an  -  tyr,  grown  old.  In      fir  -  wood  hall  sat        drain  -  ing     His 


glass  with  warriors  hold   Out  o'er  the  blue  waves'  motion  His  glad  eye  wan-derec 


Swan.     Where  dipped  the  sun      in      o    -cean.As        dips 


gold-en  swan 


(Lmxta  arorlfth. 


Spring  has  corne,  and  Frithiof  with  his  champions  sails  back  to 
his  native  shores. 

His  joyons  mind  is  replete  with  hope.  His  faithful  heart  is 
beating  with  love.  His  trusting  soul  is  eager  to  commune  again 
with  its  kindred  spirit;  but  the  castle  of  his  father  lies  in  ruins, 
burned  by  the  dastardly  Helge.  All  speaks  of  desolation.  From 
the  wasted  court  come  his  faithful  hound,  his  steed  and  his  pet 
hawk,  to  greet  him.  Their  love  is  unaffected  by  absence,  influence, 
prejudice,  jealousy,  policy  or  the  love  of  others. 

Old  Hilding  tells  him  the  mournful  story  of  Ingeborg— how 
King  Ring  overcame  the  land,  and  offered  peace  terms  on  the  sole 
and  unalterable  condition  that  she  be  given  him  in  marriage. 

This  condition  she  repudiated,  true  to  her  absent  love.  Then 
the  nobles  of  the  kingdom  employed  their  united  efforts  to  per- 
suade her  to  yield,  in  order  that  the  nation  might  be  spared,  and 
her  brothers  retain  their  throne. 

After  a  desperate  struggle  she  "consented  to  become  a  martyr 
for  her  country's  sake,"  and  King  Ring  claimed  his  bride. 

For  this  astounding,  almost  incredible  and  paralyzing  revela- 
tion,Frithiof  is  ill  prepared.  At  one  blow  every  hope  is  thwarted, 
every  sense  of  right,  honor  or  heroism  outraged,  every  possibility 
of  joy  annihilated,  and  death  remains  alone  in  the  midst  of  life. 

The  hero  is  consumed  with  implacable  wrath.  He  rushes  to 
Balder's  temple,  where  the  Midsummer  feast  is  being  celebrated, 
and  sacrifices  are  being  offered  up,  in  order  there  to  render  his 
judgment  also.     He  has  a  word  to  say  to  Helge,  the  King! 


5y< 


iSj 


*  ILD  Spring  is  breathing  in  skies  of 
bine, 
And  earth  with  verdure  is  clad  anew; 
Now  Frithiof  thanks  to  his  host  has  spoken, 
And  o'er  the  billow  a  path  has  broken; 
His  black  swan,  ploughing  her  sun-lit  way,  -r> 

In  silver  furrow  speeds  onward  gay; 
And  Western  winds,  with  the  Spring's  voice  ringing, 
Like  nightingales  in  the  sails  are   singing; 

185 


And  Agir's  daughters,*  with  sky-blue  veils, 
10          Play  round  the  helm  in  the  sportive  gales. 

Ah !  Sweet  it  is,  when  the  prow  thou  turnest 
Toward  far-off  homeland  for  which  thou  yearnest, 
Where  from  thy  hearth-stone  the  white  smoke  curled, 
And  memory  guardeth  its  childhood's  world, 
15          Where  fountain-spray  o'er  the  play-ground  dashes — 
But  in  green  mounds  are  thy  fathers'  ashes; 
And  filled  with  longing,  a  maiden  true 
Stands  on  her  crag  and  surveys  the  blue. 

Six  days  he  sails;  ere  the  next  is  over, 
2n  A  dark-blue  line  does  his  eye  discover, 

That  clearly  bounds  the  horizon  low, — 

And  rocks  and  isles  into  being  grow. 

It  is  his  land  o'er  the  billows  towering, — 

He  marks  its  forests  in  verdure  flowering, 
25  He  hears  the  torrents  that  know  no  rest. 

Beholds  the  cliff  with  its  marble  breast: 

The  strait  and  headland  he  gladly  haileth, 

And  past  the  grove  of  the  White  God+  saileth, 

Where  oft  last  summer,  on  evenings  fair, 
30  He  sat  with  Ingeborg,  maiden  rare. 

"Why  conies  she  not?  Can  she  no  more  measure 

The  time  I  rock  on  the  plains  of  azure? 

Has  she  departed  from  Balder's  walls, 

To  sit  grief-worn  in  her  palace  halls, 
35  To  strike  the  harp,  or  the  gold  be  weaving?" 

Then  swift,  the  turret  of  temple  leaving. 

His  white  hawk  soars,  and  alights  once  more 

On  Frithiofs  shoulder,  as  oft  before. 

There  flaps  he  ceaseless  each  snow-white  pinion, — 

*The  waves,  — the  NTereius  of  the  North.  +  Balder. 

1 86 


IUGUST  MaI.MSTROM 


Deprived  of  house  and  of  home,  dejected. 
O'er  woodlands  waste  he  his  gaze  directed. 

(Canto  XII.  1.   75,  p. 


And  naught  away  lures  the  faithful  minion; 
He  scratches  on.  with  his  fire-gold  claws, 
No  peace  he  grants,  makes  no  rest  or  pause; 
To  Frithiof  s  ear  is  his  beak  turned  ever, 
As  if  some  message  he  would  deliver. — 
Perchance  from  Ingeborg,  darling  bride, — 
Emt  secrets  dark  in  his  strange  tongue  hide. 

Ellida  swiftly  the  headland  passes, 

Bounds  glad  as  hind  o'er  the  meadow-grasses; 


40 


45 


BALDER/S  HOLM  (BAL  HOLMEN).  •'  '"" 

North  View. 

Fur  well-known  waters  she  enters  now, 

With  Frithiof  joyous  upon  the  prow.  50 

His  eye  he  rubs,  and  his  hand  he  places 

Above  his  brow,  as  the  strand  he  faces; 

But  though  surveying  it  o'er  and  o'er, 

His  Framnas  findeth  he  nevermore! 

Its  chimney  stands  from  the  ground,  an  arrow,  55 

Like  warriors'  bones  in  their  lonely  barrow; 
187 


Where  court-halls  stood  is  a  fire-cleared  strand, 
And  ashes  whirl  o'er  the  wasted  land. 
Now  Frithiof  swift  to  the  shore  advances. 

60  And  views  the  ravage  with  wrathful  glances, — 

His  father's  dwelling,  ancestral  seat, — 
When  shaggy  Bran  comes  with  bounding  feet, 
To  give  him  greeting;  both  true  and  daring. 
The  bear-hunt  fierce  he  had  oft  been  sharing. 

65  His  joy  revealing,  the  faithful  hound 

Frisks  round  his  master  with  many  a  bound. 
Now  gallops  up  from  the  vale,  unbidden, 
The  steed  that  Frithiof  so  oft  had  ridden, — 
Whose  milk-white  form  doth  a  gold  mane  deck. — 

70  With  deer-like  legs,  and  with  swan-like  neck; 

He  whinnies  glad,  and  with  arched  neck  lingers, 
And  bread  will  have  from  his  master's  fingers;* 
But  Frithiof,  poorer  than  they  could  be, 
Has  naught  to  give  to  his  faithful  three. — 

75  Deprived  of  house  and  of  home,  dejected, 

O'er  woodlands  waste  he  his  gaze  directed; — 
When  aged  Hilding  to  him  repaired, 
His  foster-father,  the  silver-haired: 
"At  what  I  see  I  can  scarcely  wonder; 

80  When  flies  the  eagle,  his  nest  they  plunder. 

Brave  deed  for  national  peace,  I  trow! 
Well  keepeth  Helge  his  kingly  vow 
To  worship  gods,  while  all  men  are  hated, 
And  on  his  marchf  has  the  fire-torch  waited! 

85  More  wrath  than  sorrow  it  brings  to  me,— 

*"This  line  refers  to  a  custom  universal  in  the  North,  of  treating  and  encouraging 
the  horses  by  giving  them  occasionally  pieces  of  a  coarser  sort  of  the  hard  rye-bread  (a 
kind  of  Scotch  cakes)  used  almost  everywhere  in  Germany  and  Scandinavia."— Strong. 

+  Swedish  "Eriksgata,"  the  tour  of  a  newly  elected  king  to  receive  honors  and  con- 
firmation from  his  subjects  throughout  his  entire  realm. 

1 88 


KNIT  1  KWALL 

His  joy  revealing,   the  faithful  hound 

Frisks  round  his  master  with  many  a  bound. 

Now  gallops  u])  from  the  vale,  unbidden, 

The  steed   that  Frithiof  so  oft  had  ridden. — .   .   . 

He  whinnies  glad,  and  with  arched  neck  lingi 

And  bread  will  have  from  his  master's  fiir  • 

Canto  XII,  1.  65,  p.    iss.  | 
■  s9 


But  tell  me — Ingeborg — where  is  she?'* 

"The  word  I  bring,"  spoke  old  Hilding  sadly, 

'"I  fear  will  move  not  thy  spirit  gladly; 

Thou  hadst  but  sailed,  when  King  Ring  marched  down 
90        Five  shields  displaying  against  our  one; 

In  Disar*  valley  we  met  their  slaughter, 

And  red  with  blood  grew  its  foaming  water. 

King  Halfdan,  jesting,  laughed  on  and  on, 

And  brave,  the  fame  of  a  hero  won. 
95         With  mine  own  shield  I  the  youth  protected, 

So  glad  beheld  I  his  worth  reflected. 

But  not  for  long  raged  the  conflict  sore; — 

King  Helge  bolted,  and  all  was  o'er. 

But  as  this  son  of  the  gods  was  flying,-1- 
Km        He  fired  thy  house*  — 'tis  in  ashes  lying! 

Before  the  brothers  were  set  two  things: 

To  give  their  sister  to  be  King  Ring's 

(For  former  slight  to  make  atonement),1' 

Or  lose  their  kingdom  in  swift  dethronement! 
li  15        Now  speed  peace-messengers  far  and  wide, 

And  old  King  Ring  carries  home  his  bride!" 

"O  woman!  woman!"  cried  Frithiof,  flaming, 
•"First  thought  that  Loke$  was  e'er  proclaiming! 
A  lie  it  was,  which  the  sire  of  lies^ 
110        Despatched  to  earth  in  a  woman's  guise! — 

*Disar  =  the  gods.  Disar  valley,  some  neighDoriug  vale  containing  a  temple  of  the 
gods. 

t  It  will  be  remembered  that  King  Bele  claimed  descent  from  Oden. 

£  Also  the  entire  village  of  Fratnuas,  according  to  the  Saga  of  Frithiof  the  Bold. 

II  See  Canto  V. 

$The  father  of  lies— the  evil  one,  descended  from  the  giants. 

IT  Loke.  the  evil  god  of  the  Norse  Mythology.  Once  the  foster-brother  of  Oden,  and 
held  in  high  esteem  by  the  gods,  he  later  becomes  the  enemy  of  all  that  is  good.  He  be- 
guiles Iduna  out  of  Asgard  (Paradise),  and  causes  Balder  to  receive  his  death-wound. 
Three  children  has  I_oke:  the  great  Midgard  serpent,  personifying  thedeluge:  Heta,  the 
goddess  of  death;  and  Fenris,  the  monster  wolf  that  in  Ragnnrok  destroys  Oden  and 
swallows  the  sun,  but  is  killed  by  Vidar.  the  god  of  silence.  Of  this  horrible  progeny, 
typifying  pain,  sin  and  death,  the  Jotunheim.  giantess  Angurboda,  whom  Loke  had 
•■ecretly  married,  was  the  mother.  iyc 


LOKE. 


A  blue-eyed  lie,  that  with  tears  deceiving, 
Its  charm  and  cheat  is  around  lis  weaving! — 
A  lie  high-bosomed,  with  checks  of  youth. 
With  spring-ice  virtue,  and  wind-like  truth! 

115        Both  guile  and  vanity  rule  her  glances, 

While  on  her  rose-lips  deception  dances! — 
And  yet,  how  dear  to  my  heart  was  she,— 
How  dear  she  was,  nor  doth  cease  to  be! 
Tn  days  of  earliest  recollection 

120        I  called  her  wife,  in  my  child-affection. 

There  was  no  exploit  whereon  I  dreamed, 
Bnt  she  the  merited  trophy  seemed. 
Like  stems  that  have  from  the  same  root  thriven 
Should  Thor  smite  one  with  the  bolt  of  heaven, 

125        The  other  droops:  but  if  one  grow  green, 
The  other's  branches  are  verdant  seen, — 
(  >f  joy  and  pain  we  have  thus  partaken:— 
Nor  can  I  picture  myself  forsaken. 
But  I'm  alone!     O,  thou  lofty  Var,* 

130        Who,  pen  in  hand,  tour'st  the  world  afar, 
Recording  vows  upon  pages  golden. 
Forsake  thy  fool's  play,  thy  pen  withholden! 
Deluding  falsehoods  thy  leaves  enfold. 
A  filthy  blot  on  the  faithful  gold. 

135        ( >f  Balders  Nanna+  I  know  the  storj 
But  human  faith  is  all  transiton  : 
There  dwells  no  truth  in  the  mortal  breast, 
Since  Engeborg's  voice  is  a  lie  confessed, —  • 
Oh,  voice,  like  breeze  o'er  a  flower-field  straying, 

*  The  goddess  ot  marriage,  recording  marriage  vows.  "The  ninth  asynja  (asa-god- 
-  Var.  She  listeneth  to  those  oaths  and  promises  which  between  men  and  women 
ar<  exchanged;  such  engagements  are  therefore  hight  War's  words.'  Sheitisalso  who 
punishetfa  such  as  break  the  same.  Clever  and  wise  is  Var,  and  asketh  much,  so  that 
nothing  can  be  concealed  from  her.  A.  proverb  it  i~.  that  a  female  is  Var  (aware,  acute), 
when  that  sin-  is  wise  about  anything." — GYLFAG.,  Ch.  xxix. 
e  Canto  I,  p.  34. 

192 


Like  Brage's  heavenly  harp-strings  playing! 
No  more  the  harp  will  mine  ear  abide, — 


140 


BRAGE. 

I  will  not  think  on  my  faithless  bride. 

Where  storms  are  rolling  I  swift  will  follow. 

And,  world-wide  ocean,  thon  blood  shalt  swallow! 

Where'er  a  blade  sows  the  seeds  of  death, 

On  mount,  in  dale,  will  be  felt  my  breath. 

If  monarch  crowned  I  should  meet,  and  dare  him, 

I  then  shall  know  if  my  sword  should  spare  him! 

But  if  I  meet,  in  the  battle's  roll, 

A  trusting  youth  with  enamored  soul, — 

Poor  fool,  who  honor  and  truth  believeth, — 

I  him  will  slaughter  ere  she  deceiveth, 

And  kindly  spare  him  the  treachery, 

Outrage  and  shame  that  have  come  to  me!" — 


145 


150 


"How  boileth  over  the  blood  that's  youthful!"  153 

Said  Sliding  old,  "  'Tis  an  adage  truthful, 
Youth's  heat  needs  cooling  by  snows  of  age; 
Toward  noble  maiden  thy  wrath  assuage. 
Unjust  thou  chidest  my  foster-daughter, — 
Bewail  the  doom  which  the  norns  allot  her.  160 

'93 


All  changeless  here;  from  the  thundering  heaven 
All  dooms  to  children  of  men  are  given. 
None  heard  the  sorrowing  maiden's  weeping, — 
Like  storied  Vidar+  her  silence  keeping; 


VIDAR  SLAYING  THE  FENRIS  WOLF. 

165        She  suffered  mute  as  in  Southern  grove 

Of  mate  bereft  mourns  the  turtle  dove. 

To  me  the  sad  one  her  heart  discovered, 

Where  always  infinite  anguish  hovered. 

As  water-fowl  with  a  wounded  breast 
170        Dives  to  the  bottom,  and  finds  its  rest, 

And,  lest  day's  light  be  the  wound  disclosing, 

Lies  on  the  sea-bed,  its  life-blood  losing, — 

*  "Good  and  well  sprung  nornor  give  good  fortunes;  and  when  men  fall  into  troub- 
les, it  is  bad  nornor  who  are  the  cause  thereof." — Gvlfag.,  Ch.  xx. 

The  Norseman's  religion  was  highly  fatalistic.  Frithiof  constantly  exclaims 
against  the  evil  norns,  as  does  Hilding  in  this  line. 

t  Son  of  Oden,  and  the  god  of  silence.  "A  shoe  thick-welted  hath  he.  The  strongest 
of  all  he  is,  next  after  Thor,  and  of  him  have  the  gods  much  help  in  all  dangerous 
troubles."—  C.yi.fac,.,  Ch.  xxix. 

"The  Wolf  (Fenris)  gorges  Oden,  who  thus  getteth  his  bane  (death! ;  but  imme- 
diately thereafter  rushes  Vidar  forward,  and  steppeth  with  one  foot  on  his  lower  jaw.  On 
that  foot  hath  he  the  shoe  for  which  the  leather  has  been  from  of  old  collected  of  all  those 
bits  which  are  cut  off  shoes  for  the  toes  or  heels  thereof.  He,  therefore,  who  will  come 
to  the  help  of  the  asas,  always  shall  take  care  to  cast  aside  these  cuttings.  With  his  other 
hand  Vidar  layeth  hold  of  the  wolf's  upper  jaw  and  riveth  his  throat  asunder;  and  this  is 
the  death  of  the  wolf. "-Do.,  Ch.  i.i. 

194 


Ah!  tli us  her  sorrow  in  night  sank  down, 

An<l  what  she  suffered  T  knew  alone. 

"I'm  but  an  offering,"  she  oft  lamented,  175 

'"For  Bale's  kingdom!  The  snow-flower  scented 

Enwreathes  the  sacrificed  peace-maid's  hair, 

And  wintergreen  decks  the  victim  fair. 

Ah!  Could  I  perish,  and  end  my  anguish! 

But  angry  Balder  demands  1  languish.  180 

A  lingering  death  is  for  me  at  last, 

Where  throbs  the  heart,  and  the  pulse  beats  fast. 

But  tell  to  no  one  the  martyr's  sorrow. 

I  would,  though  tortured,  no  pity  borrow. 

King  Bele's  daughter  will  bear  her  woe, —  185 

But  thou  to  Frithiof  her  heart  shalt  show!" 

The  marriage  day  doth  at  last  awaken, — 

Ah!  From  my  rune-staff  I  would  'twere  taken!  * 

When  white-robed  maidens  and  armed  men  go 

To  Balder's  fane  in  procession  slow.  190 

A  gloomy  bard  the  cortege  is  guiding; 

A  pale  bride  sits  on  a  black  steed  riding; 

Pallid  is  she  as  a  ghost  doth  seem 

On  storm-cloud  perched,  when  the  lightnings  gleam. 

I  lift  from  saddle  my  lily  slender,  195 

And  neath  the  arch  of  the  fane  attend  her 

Unto  the  altar.     In  grave  tones  now 

She  tells  to  Lofna+  her  solemn  vow, — 

Breathes  many  a  prayer,  to  the  White  God  turning, 

And  all,  excepting  the  bride,  are  mourning.  200 

When  Helge  saw  on  her  arm  thy  ring, 

*  Rune-staff,  a  staff  carved  with  runes,  etc.,  after  the  manner  of  the  arm-ring,  p.  69, 
and  serving  the  purpose  of  a  calendar.  These  were  in  general  use  until  the  17th  century, 
when  their  place  was  usurped  by  the  annual  almanac. 

+  <>rI.ofn,  the  presiding  deity  of  matrimony.  She  is  mild  and  good,  and  is  permit- 
ted by  Oden  or  Freya  to  join  lovers  together,  despite  all  hindrances. 

195 


BALDI  R    m:    GOOD 


1    N,.r.c   Stories 
right    1900.  by 
Braai.«h 


He  snatched  it  off  as  a  hated  tiling; — 

On  Balder's  image  'twas  quick  suspended! 

And  then,  forbearance  of  mine  was  ended. 

My  faithful  sword  drew  I  swiftly  forth.  205 

And  Helge,  king,  was  of  little  worth ! 

But  whispered  Ingeborg  then:  "Forbear  thee! 

In  truth,  a  brother  this  ring  could  span'  me, 

Yet  much  one  bears  ere  the  soul  be  free; 

Let  Oden  judge  between  him  and  me!"  210 

"Let  Oden  judge!"  Frithiof  dark  did  mutter, 

"But  I  my  judgment  would  also  utter! 

Is  it  not  now  the  Mid-summer  Feast  ?* 

Within  the  fane  stands  the  great  crowned  priest+ 

Who  sold  his  sister  and  burned  my  dwelling; —  215 

Ah!  Now  my  judgment  would  I  be  telling!" 

*  Held  in  honor  of  Balder,  in  his  temple,  on  Mid-summer's  eve.  when  the  sun,  Bal- 
dev's  symbol,  attained  its  extreme  Northern  position.  Bale-fires  or  bonfires  were  every 
where  built  on  this  anniversary. 

+  Contemptuously  for  Helge. 


iq: 


(Hattto  Sljirtmttlj. 


The  priests  are  assembled  in  the  temple  of  Balder  to  sacrifice  to 
the  god.  Helge,  the  bigoted,  is  participating  in  these  rites,  when 
the  clash  of  the  arms  of  Frithiof's  champions  resounds  without, 
and  the  tones  of  Frithiof's  voice  commanding  Bjorn  to  guard  the 
door,  come  to  their  ears.  EJntering,  and  approaching  the  king,  he 
casts  the  weighty  purse  of  gold,  presented  him  by  Angantyr,  full  in- 
to the  face  of  Helge,  saying!  "Here  is  the  redemption  of  mine 
honor!" 

Helge  falls  senseless.  The  ancient  Saga  makes  this  Frithiof's 
full  intention,  and  states  that  two  of  Helge's  teeth  were  driven  out. 
and  that  Halfdau  alone  prevented  his  brother's  falling  on  the  altar- 
fire.  Then  Frithiof  approaches  the  image  of  Balder,  from  whose 
arm  he  endeavors  to  loosen  the  arm-ring  placed  there  by  Helge,  and 
seemingly  grown  fast  to  the  arm. 

So  much  strength  is  required  to  detach  it  that  the  image  is 
loosened  from  its  pedestal  and  falls  crashing  onto  the  altar-pile. 
Being  of  pine,  dry  and  pitchy,  it  is  quickly  enveloped  in  crackling 
flames  whose  lambent  tongues  ignite  walls,  tapestries,  ceiling. 
The  temple  is  a  flaming  mass.  Tumultuous  resound  the  cries! 
Water  is  brought  by  the  multitude,  but  in  vain.  Balder's  grove  ig- 
nites from  the  burning  fane  !  Fire-surges  sweep  its  sacred  bowers. 
Soon  the  temple  lies  in  ashes. 

All  is  lost  now— Thorsten,  Ingeborg,  Framniis,  the  temple,  the 
favorof  thegod,  friendshipof  men,  native  land,  gladness,  and  hope. 
All  are  gone.     Frithiof  sits  down,  — and  weeps. 


198 


XIII. 

UDXIGHT'S  sun  o'er  the  mountain  height 
Blood-red  now  was  suspended; 
Day  gleamed  not,  and  it  was  not  night, — 
Both  into  one  were  blended. 

*  At  latitude  only  five  degrees  farther  north  than  Sogue,  the  mid-summer  sun  re- 
mains above  the  horizon  during  the  24  hours  of  the  day;  so  we  must  "crave  a  few  degrees 
of  poetic  latitude,"  as  Strong  suggests,  "or  considerable  allowance  for  refraction  aug- 
mented in  cold  climates  by  condensation  of  the  atmosphere." 

199 


Balder1  s  fire,*  type  of  sunlight  clear, 
Burned  on  his  hearth-stone  hallowed; 

Yet  did  its  light  soon  disappear, — 
Hoder' sf  control  then  followed. 

Priests  round  the  temple-wall  appeared,- 
Stood,  and  the  fire-brands  shifted; 

Pale  old  men  of  the  silver  beard, 

Flint  knives*  their  hard  hands  lifted. 

Circling  the  altar,  Helge  King, 
Aideth,  with  crown  the  rarest: — 

Hark!     At  the  hour  of  midnight,  ring 
Arms'l   in  the  sacred  forest! 


*  "Bakler's  Pyre"  applies  (1)  to  the  burning  of  his  body,  with  that  of  Nan- 
na,  his  wife,  on  his  ship  Ringhorn,  which  was  pushed  from  shore  by  the  powerful 
Jotunheim  giantess  Hyrrokin,  when  gods  and  goddesses,  giants  and  men,  all  came  to 
mourn  his  loss;  (2)  to  this  Midsummer  Festival,  when  sacrifices  were  offered  to  Balder, 
and  emblematic  bale-fires  everywhere  kindled;  (3)  to  this  destruction  of  his  temple  and 
grove,  when  his  carved  image  was  burned  as  upon  a  funeral  pile. 

tThe  blind  brother  of  Balder,  and  god  of  darkness.  He  was  the  "blind  fate"  that 
slew  Balder.  Saxo  makes  Balder  and  Hoder  rivals  for  the  hand  of  Nanua,  Balder  having 
been  troubled  with  ominous  dreams,  fears  for  his  own  fate.  "Then  taketh  Frigga,  his 
mother,  oath  of  all  existences,  living  and  lifeless,  that  they  would  not  harm  her  son;  but 
the  tender  mistletoe  she  neglects,  and  this  becomes  his  bane.  As  the  gods  are  aiming  at 
him  as  a  mark,  to  show  that  he  is  now  invulnerable,  the  ever  evil  Loke  placeth  the  young 
plant  in  the  hands  of  the  blind  Hoder,  directs  his  aim,  and — Balder  falls !  —And  this  is  the 
greatest   misfortune  that  has  ever  befallen  gods  and  men!" — Sturleson's  Edda. 

The  gods,  speechless  with  horror,  gazed  at  each  other;  later  gave  way  to  loud  lam- 
entations. Then  they  bore  the  body  of  Balder  to  the  funeral  pile,  on  board  his  ship,  Ring- 
horn,  largest  of  all  ships;  audit  was  during  this  ceremony  that  his  wife  Nanna's  heart 
was  broke n  with  grief,  and  her  body  placed  on  the  same  pile  and  burned  withthatof 
Balder. 

His  horse,  fully  caparisoned,  was  likewise  consumed  by  the  same  flame.  Balder 
was  the  god  of  light ;  Loke,  of  darkness.  The  former  typifies  the  "heavenly  light  of  the 
soul,"  innocence,  Christ-like  purity.  He  is  thus  slain  by  Loke,  the  evil  one,  the  foul  de- 
stroyer,— whose  work  is  even  yet  incomplete. 

Frigga  offers  her  favor  to  him  who  should  ride  to  the  lower  world  and  offer  to  Hela 
a  ransom  for  Balder.  Hermod  undertakes  this  difficult  journey.  Nine  days  and  nights 
he  rides  through  darkness.     Then  his  steed  leaps  over  the  gates  of  Hel. 

Hela  agrees  to  permit  the  god's  return,  if  all  earthly  things  will  weep  for  him.  Then 
the  gods  sent  messengers  over  all  the  world;    and  all  things   wept.     But  on  their  return. 
they  found  a  giantess  whose  name  was  Thock.     They  bade  her  also  weep.     She  replied- 
"Thock  will  weep 
With  dry  tears 
For  Balder's  death ; 
Nor  of  dead  nor  of  living 
Force  I  the  son : 

Let  Hela  keep  what  she  hath."— Sturleson's  Edda. 
So  Balder's  return  to  earth  will  occur  not  until  Ragnarok,  the  destruction  of  the  world. 

Now  Thock  was  none  other  than  Loke  in  disguise,  who  thus  crowns  his  nefarious 
tie.  ds  with  this  hellish  triumph.  But  the  price  he  must  later  pay  for  this  victory  is  one 
of  extreme  and  unutterable  agony. 

t"ln  ancient  times,  flint  was  fashioned  into  cutting  instruments."— Jameson. 

||  Of  Frithiof  and  his  champions. 


$>  ^.  '■=*    fc^^ 

•*. 

.im^K 

^1        ^ 

• 

llbj 

'•, 

P«i^ 

'1 

13 

Bjorn.  stand  fast  by  the 
temple  door! 
Freedom  for  all  now 
ceases! 
Out  or  in,  who  would  venture 
more. 
Cleave  thou  his  skull  in 
pieces!'" 

Pallid  the  king  grew!  Ah, 
too  well 

Knew  he  what  voice  had 

spoken ; 
Frithiof  stood  forth  in  his 

anger  fell. 
Like  Autumn  storm-cloud 

broken. 


n 


\ 

1       \ 

"Take  the  tribute  to  thee 

I' 

now  brought 

!   ) 

Over  the  western  billow! 

Life-and-death  battle  by 
us  two  fought 

Then  by  the  altar  shall 

follow ! 

'•Shield  behind  me.  and  bosom  bare. 

Fair  shall  the  combat  be  reckoned: 
Thou,  as  king,  shalt  the  first  blow  dare, 

I — take  warning— the  second! 


♦According  to  the  laws  of  holm-gang  (duel),  the  challenged  party  had  the  right  to 
strike  the  first  blow;  when  his  opponent  was  wounded  so  that  his  blood  stained  the 
ground,  his  seconds  might  interfere  and  end  the  combat.  He  that  was  first  wounded 
mu«t  pay  the  customary  fine. 

"The  first  cut  is  the  right  of  him  who  is  called  out."  — Saga  Ketils  Haengs. 

20  2 


UJGUST     \I\I.M>TK"M 


"Take  the  tribute  to  thee  now  brought 
Over  the  western  billow! 
Lifeand-death  battle  by  us  two  fought 
Then  by  the  altar  shall  follow! 


I  Canto  XIII,   v.   7,   p.   202.) 


9  Ah.  glance  not  toward  the  temple  door! 

Captive  the  fox  is  holden! 
Think  of  Framnas, — of  Ingeborg  more, — 
Sister  with  tresses  golden!  " 

10  This  in  heroic  tone  he  said, 

Purse  from  his  cincture  taking: — 
Hurling  its  mass  with  a  recklessness  dread, 
Straight  at  the  king's  brow  quaking! 

11  Out  from  his  mouth  the  warm  blood  gushed, 

Darkness  his  eye  was  veiling; 
There  by  the  altar,  to  silence  hushed, 
Kinsman  of  gods  lay  paling. 

12  "What!  Canst  thou  bear  not  thine  own  dear  gold, 

Coward  of  all  thy  nation? 
AngurVadel  would  scorn  to  hold 
Blame  for  such  vile  oblation. 

13  "Silence,  priests,  with  your  offering-knives! 

Silence,  ye  moonshine  princes! 
Lest  ye  barter  your  wretched  lives, — 
Thirst  my  blade  now  evinces. 

14  "Ah!  White  Balder,  thine  anger  check, — • 

Glare  on  me  not  so  sullen! 
But  the  ring  that  thine  arm  doth  deck, 
Pardon  me,  has  been  stolen.* 

15  "Not  for  thee  was  its  band,  I  know, 

Ever  by  Vaulnnd  graven; 

■  Se<   Canto  xii,  lines  200  to   204.     The   Sa«a  of  Frithiof  makes    Kiu«  Ring  cause 
the  arm-ring  to  be  removed  and  given  to  Helve's  wife,  to  be  later  returned  to  l-'iithiof. 

204 


KXUT    EKWALL 


"Ah!  White  Balder,   thine  anger  check, — 
Glare  on  me  not  so  sullen! 
But  the  ring  that  thine  arm  doth  deck, 
Pardon  me,  has  been  stolen.*' 


i  Canto  XIII,   v.    14,   p.   204.) 


205 


Seized  it  was  from  a  maid  in  woe; — 
Down  with  the  spoil  of  craven!" 

16  Fierce  lie  pulled;  but  the  arm  and  ring 

Seemed  as  in  one  united; 
Loosened,  the  god  with  a  wrathful  spring 
Down  on  the  shrine-fire  alighted.* 

17  Hark!     It  crackles, — the  gold  teeth  bite! 

Rafter  with  ceiling  quivers. 
Bjorn  at  the  portal  stands  death-white, — 
Frithiof  burns,  that  he'  shivers. 

18  "Open  the  door!      Let  the  people  go! 

Exit  no  longer  cover! 
Burns  the  temple!     Throw  water,  throw 
All  the  ocean  thereover!" 

19  Down  from  the  temple  unto  the  strand 

Chains  of  hands  now  are  woven; 
Sweep  the  billows  from  hand  to  hand 
Into  the  hissing  oven. 

20  Frithiof  sits,  like  the  god  of  rain, 

High  o'er  the  beams  and  water, 
Mandates  giving  about  the  fane, 
Calm  mid  the  fiery  slaughter. 

21  Vain!     The  fire  holds  the  ruling  hand, 

Smoke-clouds  the  fane  have  belted; 
Gold  falls  down  on  the  red-hot  sand. 
Silver  plates  quickly  are  melted. 


*  The  two  queens  were  then  anointing    two  other    pitch-pine   idols,   which   in  the 
commotion,  also  fell  into  the  flames.  +  Bjdm. 

206 


THE  BURNING  TEMPLE. 


22  All  was  lost!  From  the  half-burned  hall, 

Flying,  a  red  cock  hastened;* 
Perched  and  crew  on  the  roof- ridge  tall, 
Flapping  his  wings  unfastened. 

23  North  winds  play  from  the  morning  sky,- 

Flames  to  the  heavens  are  towering; 
'  Balder' s  grove  now  is  summer-dry, — 
Hungry  the  fire,  and  devouring. 


SURT  WITH  HIS  FLAMING  SWORD. 

24  Raging,  its  flames  the  boughs  ignite, 

Ne'er  from  their  ravage  turning; 
Ah !  What  a  wild,  what  a  terrible  light ! 
Mighty  is  Balder' s  burning! 

*Or  at  least  it  was  so  declared  by  some.  Perhaps  this  may  be  figurative. 

The  cock  is  not  only  the  harbinger  of  day,  but  also  of  Ragnarok,  the  world's  demoli- 
tion, which  is  symbolized  by  Balder's  pyre,  and  which  is  to  be  heralded  by  the  crowing 
of  the  gold-combed  cock  in  Asgard,  the  red  one  on  the  earth,  and  the  lurid  one  in  the 
world  infernal,  all  crowing  "in  ominous  concert,"  and  which  is  immediately  followed  by 
the  sundering  of  the  chains  of  Fenris,  the  liberation  of  Loke,  the  quaking  of  the  earth, 
the  groaning  of  Yggdrasil,  the  advancing  of  the  Midgard  serpent  and  the  sons  of  Muspel 
led  by  Surtur,  the  all-kindling.  Even  to  the  present  day  it  is  a  frequent  expression  in 
describing  a  fire  just  broken  out,  that  "the  red  cock  is  crowing  over  the  roof  of  the  house." 

Perhaps  it  here  also  suggests  the  long  farewell  Frithiof  is  now  bidding  to  peace. 

208 


■25  Hark!     It  crackles  in  riven  tree-roots, 

See  their  crowns  incandescent! 
Who  is  the  mortal  that  disputes 
Muspel's  wild  sons*  rnbescent ! 

26  Surges  a  fire-sea  in  Balder's  grove, 

Shoreless  its  billows  tremble; 
Sunlight  comes,  but  the  fjord  and  cove 
Caverns  of  hell  resemble! 

27  Soon  in  ashes  the  temple  lay; 

Wasted,  those  hallowed  bowers; 
Frithiof  sorrowful  turned  away, — 
Wept  in  the  morning  hours. 

*Muspel's  sons  =;  the  flames.  South  of  the  fathomless  abyss  of  Ginnuuga-gap  wa- 
Muspel,  the  world  of  fire— uninhabitable  except  to  those  indigenous  to  it— whose  borders 
were  guarded  by  Surtur  (or  Surt).  the  flame  giant. 

His  brandished  sword,  outshining  the  sun  itself,  emitted  constant  showers  of 
glowing  sparks.  With  these  the  gods  studded  the' firmament,  where  they  remain  as  stars . 
but  out  of  the  most  brilliant  ones  they  made  the  sun  and  moon,  and  suspended  them  in 
heaven. 

At  the  last  day  Surtur's  flames  will  consume  the  universe. 


Stoker's  Pyre, 


Hinrr. 


2^ 


.  Shaw's  Translation. 


.&,■  t¥GS 


t^km 


j-  j 


j. 


s 


i 


^ 


» 


mt+w 


fcj^ 


feff •  '*;  -r  'r  r  'w^ 


L1?  J'  j~;7T^^ 


Mid  •  night  -  sun  o'er  the  moun'-aiu  height 


Blood-red  was     suspend -ed;  Mid  •  night's  sun  o'er  the  mount-ain  height 


Blood-  red      was         sus    -    pend  -    ed. 


It  was      not     day,       it 


m 


m 


4 ■  ;*■ 


II.'  1 1  -Ut-ttr^u  j  }\r  ^gg 


was         not  night,—     Both  in-to         one    were  blend-ed.  It   was     not      day.it 


p  e  r-;  \i^-^-^-H^tM 


vas      not        night;  Both  in  -to      one       were       blend  ed. 


CUantii  jtfuurtmttlj. 


Frithiof,  by  his  violent  wrenching  of  the  arm-ring  from  the  arm 
of  Balder's  image,  has  undesignedly  caused  the  destruction  of  the 
temple.  Helge  seizes  upon  this,  and  the  exasperating  indignity 
to  which  Frithiof  has  subjected  him,  in  casting  the  purse  of  gold 
in  his  face,  as  sufficient  reason  why  his  enemy  should  be  slain, 
with  all  his  companions.  He  gives  orders  therefore  to  follow  him 
with  speed. 

This  departure  is  the  climax  of  such  a  train  of  blighting  and 
appalling  calamities,  that  Frithiof,  galled  with  ineffable  bitter- 
ness toward  the  norns  for  allowing  such  ills  to  befall  him,  and 
almost  defiant  of  the  doom  to  which  they  may  yet  devote  him,  sits 
on  deck  and  sarcastically  addresses  the  smoke  still  rising  from  the 
ashes  of  the  temple-pyre.  Then,  with  a  mournful  thought  of  his 
father's  hallowed  mound,  never  to  be  visited  again  by  him,  he 
turns  EHida's  prow  once  more  to  the  foam  -  white,  illimitable 
ocean.     His  only  haven  is  its  desolate,  tempestuous  plain. 

But  Helge,  with  ten  dragon-ships,  sails  forth  to  destroy  Frithiof, 
trusting  to  the  infernal  powers  whose  aid  he  has  besought.  Bjoru, 
having  anticipated  this  measure,  scuttles  the  keels  of  Helge's  ships 
while  Frithiof  is  at  the  temple.  They  sink.  Helge  alone  escapes, 
and  swims  to  safety.  His  wrath  is  so  terrific  that,  with  intent  to 
shoot  an  arrow  at  Frithiof,  he  bends  his  bow  with  sufficient  force 
to  snap  off  both  its  ends. 

Here,  then,  is  another  opportunity  for  the  hero  to  slay  the 
tyrant;  but  again,  too  lofty  a  degree  of  regard  for  his  own  lance, 
which  is  too  good  to  drink  a  craven's  blood,  stays  the  hand  of 
Frithiof,  and  spares  the  life  of  the  contemptible  monarch. 

Then  to  his  vanishing  fatherland,  its  lakes  and  mountains,  its 
groves  and  linden-shaded  graves,  the  exile  murmurs  in  peaceful 
strains  a  long  farewell. 

The  short-lined,  close-rhymed  iambic  meter  of  this  canto,  egre- 
giously  difficult  to  paraphrase,  was  practically  unknown  in  Swedish 
previous  to  Teguer. 


-^y^sSfea^r- 


XIV. 
jFntbinf  0iWs  into  iExtle. 

ODn  deck  by  light 
Of  Summer  night 
Sat  Frithiof  grieving; 
Like  billows  heaving, 
Kolled  wrath  and  woe 
In  ebb  and  flow: — 
Still  glowed  by  flashes 
The  temple's  ashes. 


"Thou  temple-smoke, 
Fly  up !     Invoke 
Yalhall  requiting; — 

On  me  inviting 
213 


10 


The  white  god's  ire 
For  deed  so  dire! 

15  Fly  up  and  chatter 

Till  heaven  shall  clatter;* 
His  fane  proclaim 
Laid  low  by  flame; 
His  statue  holy 

.  /       .  Now  fallen  lowly, 

Like  common  wood 
For  fire  the  food; 
His  grove  protected 
By  arms  respected 

25  Since  swords  were  worn, 

By  fire  now  shorn, — 
Bobbed  of  the  glory 
Of  rotting  hoary! 
All  this,  and  more, 

30  That  none  ignore, 

Neglect  not  telling 
In  Balder's  dwelling, 
Thou  prattler-cloud, 
The  mist-god's+  shroud! 

35  Sing  high  the  splendor 

Of  monarch  tender,* 
Who  me  hath  banned 
From  native  land 
And  his  dominions! 

40  Well,  with  free  pinions, 


*  The  short  phrases  and  half-detached  utterances  of  this  canto  picture  breathless- 
ness,  crepitancy,  agitation. —which  demand  the  directness  of  unqualified  expression. 

Hopelessness,  recklessness,  contempt  for  men  and  gods,  and  the  impulse  to  im- 
pute malignancy  ol  motive  even  to  the  Valhalla-seeking  smoke-cloud  (as  if  Balder's  wratn 
were  not  already  sufficiently  aroused  against  Frithiof),are  all,  at  this  limit  of  human  endur- 
ance, most  bitterly  and  sarcastically  portrayed. 

+Balder.        ^Helge. 

214 


Seek  we  the  blue 

Where  billows  woo. 

Thou  hast  no  resting, 

Ellida,  breasting 

The  tide  once  more  45 

To  earth's  far  shore. 

<  )Vr  briny  ocean 

Must  be  thy  motion, 

My  dragon  good; 

A  drop  of  blood  50 

Can  harm  thee  never, 

Though  roving  ever. 

When  tempests  roam, 

Thou  art  my  home, 

Since  Balder' s  brother  55 

Hath  burned  mine  other; 

Thou  art  my  North, 

My  foster-earth; 

From  homeland  yonder 

I  now  must  wander;  60 

Thou  art  my  bride 

Tn  pitch-black  dyed; 

My  white  bride  royal 

No  more  is  loyal. 

Thou  ocean  free,  65 

T'n known  to  thee 

Is  king  tyrannic 

With  freaks  volcanic. 

Thy  king  is  he, 

Of  men  so  free,  70 

Who  never  quaketh, 

However  shaketh 

21. s 


In  mad  unrest 

Thy  foam-white  breast. 

75  Thy  blue  plains  measure 

The  hero's  pleasure, — 
Receive  his  prow 
As  sod  the  plow; 
Blood  dyes  the  meadow 

80  In  dragon's  shadow, 

And  steel  blades  clear 
Are  seed-corn  here. 
Thy  fields  all  hoary 
Bear  crops  of  glory, 

85  And  wealth  of  gold; 

My  bark  uphold, 
O  billow;  never 
From  thee  I  sever! 
My  father's  mound 

90  In  peace  is  bound, 

Mid  waters  flowing 
And  verdure  growing; — 
Mine  blue  shall  be 
In  foam-white  sea, 

95  Forever  swimming 

Mid  storms  bedimming, 
Shall  lull  to  rest 
Beneath  thy  breast. 
To  me  wert  given 

100  For  life  a  haven ; 

Unconquered  wave, 
Be  thou  my  grave!  " 

He  said  in  madness, 

Then  turned  in  sadness 
216 


105 


110 


His  faithful  prore 
From  well-known  shore, 
And  slow  was  curving 
Mid  rocks  preserving 
Their  guard  to-day 
O'er  shallow  bay. 

But  vengeance  waketh: 
King  Helge  taketh 
Ten  dragons  fleet, 
His  foe  to  meet. 


115 


120 


All  cry  elated: 
k,The  king  is  fated! 
His  one  stroke  o'er, 
Then  nevermore 
Will  power  be  given 
That  son  of  heaven 
Beneath  the  moon; 
To  Oden  soon 
The  god-blood  yearning 
Will  be  returning;! " 


125 


'Tis  scarce  foretold, 
When  neath  the  hold 

218 


Then  Bjorn  laughs  loudly. 
Exulting  proudly: 
"O,  asa-blood, 

The   wile   was  good!" 

i  Canto  XIV,   1.    [35,   p.   219.) 


Of  Helge's  vessels 

Unseen  power  nestles, 

And  downward  slow 

His  fleet  draws  low  130 

To  Ran's  death-pillow! 

But  through  the  billow 

Swims  Helge  now 

From  deluged  prow. 

Then  Bjoin  laughs  loudly,  135 

Exulting  proudly : 

"<  ),  asa-blood, 

The  wile  was  good! 

I  did  the  boring, 

N<  i  eye  exploring,  140 

On  \  ester-night — 

A  concept  bright!* 

May  sea-cold  Rana 

In  wonted  manner 

The  foeman  claim.  145 

The  king  (what  shame!) 

Should  them  have  tended, — 

With  them  descended." 

In  furious  mood 

King  Helge  stood.  150 

The  shore  scarce  gaining. 

His  bow  while  straining,* 

Steel-wrought  and  round, 

'Gainst  rocky  ground, 


*The  stratagem  of  boring  the  keels  of  the  enemy's  vessels  so  that  they  slowly  filled 
and  sank,  was  sucessfully  employed  by  Prince  Herraud  in  rescuing  his  bride,  the  sister 
of  Godmund,  from  Siggeir. 

+  "Helge  became  so  enraged  that  he  raved  as  though  he  were  mad.  Then  bended 
he  his  how,  and  laid  an  arrow  on  the  string,  intending  to  shoot  it  at  Frithiof.  Hut  this  he 
did  with  so  much  force  that  both  the  necks  of  the  bow  were  rent  asunder." —Saga  ok 


Frithiof  thk  Bold.  219 


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He  ne'er  attended 
How  hard  he  bended, 
Till  with  a  clang 
It  sundered  sprang. 


155 


: 


.■■-'.       ' 


But  Frithiof  weigheth 
His  lance,  and  sayeth: 
"Death's  eagle  bold 
Restrained  I  hold. 
Could  he  be  flying, 
Then  soon  were  lying 
A  coward  low. 
By  righteous  blow  ! 
Of  danger  think  not, — 
My  lance  would  drink  not 
A  dastard's  blood! 
It  is  too  good 
For  filthy  glory; 
It  may  in  story 
Deck  runic  stone, 
But  ne'er  be  shown 
On  shaft  of  craven,* 
With  thy  name  graven. 
Thy  project  brave 
Sank  neath  the  wave; 
On  shore  thou'st  striven. 
Nor  better  thriven,— 


1(30 


165 


170 


175 


180 


*A  pillar  of  shame,  or  niding-post,  was  a  memorial 
shaft  on  which  was  carved  the  name  of  one  guilty  of 
disgraceful  or  cowardly  conduct. 

The  term  "niding"  signifies  extreme  wickedness 
and  infamy.  "Denotat  niding  modernis  Danis  viruui 
sordide  parcum  atque  tenacem."— Thus  Bartholin. 

Niding  was  the  most  insulting  of  all  epithets  ;  but 
its  virulence  was  enhanced  to  the  extreme  by  erecting  a 
niding-post  or  niding-stake. 

"A  pole  with  a  horse's  head  was  considered  a  nid- 
ing-post of  peculiar  efficacy. "-Northern  Antiquities. 


185 


Rust  snapped  thy  bow, 
Not  thou,  I  know; 
To  deeds  more  splendid 
Mine  arm  is  bended; 
Of  thine  how  wide 
Thou  mayst  decide!" 


190 


195 


He  quick  selected 
An  oar  exsected 
From  fir-tree  hale 
In  Gudbrand's  dale;* 


GUDBRANDS  DALE. 

Then  grasped  its  fellow, 
And  o'er  the  billow 
With  strong  pulls  bent;- 
Each  oar  was  rent, 
Like  brittle  arrow 
Or  sword-blade  narrow. 


200 


The  sun  climbs  bright 
O'er  mountain  height; 
The  breeze  is  blowing 
From  land,  and  wooing 


*A  fertile  vale  of  Norway,  in  Aggerhuus,  to  the  east  of  the  Sogtie  Fjord. 

222 


Each  wave  to  dance 

In  morning's  glance ; 

Ellida  leapeth 

O'er  waves,  and  sweepeth 

In  joy  ahead; —  205 

But  Frithiof  said: 

"Brow  of  creation, 

0  regal  North! 

1  have  no  station 

On  thy  fair  earth!  210 

No  homeland  other 
My  pride  can  swell; 
Now,  hero-mother, 
Farewell,  farewell! 

"Farewell,  supernal  215 

Yalhalla-throne, 

Night's  eye  diurnal, — 

Thou  midnight  sun! 

Sky  all  unclouded, 

Where  spirits  dwell,  220 

Star-fields  so  crowded, 

Farewell,  farewell! 

"Farewell,  the  glory 

Ye  mountains  bore! 

Ye  rune-stones  hoary  225 

Of  mighty  Thor! 

Blue  seas  and  highlands 

I  knew  so  well, — 

Ye  rocks  and  islands, 

Farewell,  farewell!  230 

223 


"Farewell,  mounds  holy, 
By  billows  blue, 
Where  lindens  lowly 
Their  flower-dust  strew ; 
235  As  right  revealeth, 

Will  Saga  tell 
What  earth  concealeth; 
Farewell,  farewell! 

"Farewell,  O  forest, 
240  Where  erst  I  played; 

Green  garb  thou  worest, 
And  brooklets  strayed. 
Friends  of  my  childhood, 
Ye  meant  me  well; 
245  Sweet  is  your  wild-wood,- 

Farewell,  farewell! 

"My  love  is  slighted, 
Burned  is  my  home; 
Mine  honor  blighted, 
250  Exiled  I  roam ! 

To  sea  earth's  sadness 
I  hopeless  tell, 
And  bid  life's  gladness 
Farewell,  farewell!  " 


?2.J 


SAGA. 


(Hants  Jfftftmttlj. 


The  Vikings  were  Norse  pirates,  who  foraged  along  the  coasts 
of  Britain,  Normandy,  and  even  the  countries  lying  about  the  Med- 
iterranean, during  the  eighth,  ninth  and  tenth  centuries. 

The  summer  cruises  of  the  Northern  freebooters  were  the  uni- 
versal custom,— a  part  of  the  scheme  of  Scandinavian  hero-life. 
Even  sovereigns  and  princes  of  the  later  Scandinavia,  like  those  of 
the  early  Pelasgi,  abandoned  their  halls  for  the  perils  and  prizes  of 
such  predatory  exploits. 

Piracy  being  therefore  considered  an  honorable  vocation,  since 
might  was  right,  seems  to  be  the  only  course  prescribed  to  the  hero, 
who  has  now  parted  from  native  land  and  peace.  From  the  acme 
of  unutterable  affliction  which  the  unpropitious  norns  and  angered 
gods  have  allowed  to  overtake  him,  he  desperately  welcomes  the 
Lethean  chant  of  the  limitless  ocean,  which  is  to  be  his  haven  in 
life  and  his  grave  in  death. 

He  traverses  many  waters,  pursues  many  conquests,  and  the 

ancient  Saga  states  he  wintered  again  with  the  hospitable  Angantyr. 

Fame  attends  him  everywhere.     But   he  finds  no  peace.    The 

eye  of  the  offended  Balder  seems  glaring  at  him  daily  and  nightly. 

When  he  comes  to  the  Grecian  isles,  which  he  had  three  years 

before  pictured  as  the  beautiful  home  Ingeborg  should  share  with 

him,  but  which  he  had  never  beheld  except  through  the  eyes  of 

Thorsten,  his  father,— he  clearly  perceives  how  all  things  sink  to 

nothing  when  compared  with  her  who  should  have  been  his  bride. 

A  nameless  longing  seizes  him,  to  see  the  Northland  once  again. 

He  must  behold  its  mountains,  visit  the  grave  of  his  father,— gaze 

once  more— only  once  more— upon  Ingeborg's  dear  face,— then  he 

is  ready  to  return  to  ocean  and  find  his  foam-covered  grave. 

In  the  swift  leaping  anapaests  of  this  canto  we  can  imagine  we 
see  Ellida  bounding  swiftly,  dauntlessly,  over  the  foaming  billows, 
pausing  only  upon  the  summits  of  the  swells,  that  surge  forever, 
and  are  measured  by  the  entire  poetic  line,  while  the  ordinary 
waves  are  indicated  by  the  individual  poetic  feet. 


Aj» 


-*-^y. 


226 


XV. 


®lp?  Biking  Gloflf . 


Now  he  glided  around  o'er  the  desolate  seas. 

like  a  plundering  falcon  he  flew; 
To  his  comrades  the  Viking  gave  mandates  and  laws: 

wilt  thou  hear  now  the  law-code  he  drew?* 


"Pitch  no  tent  on  the  ship,  sleep  thou  not  in  a  house,      2 
neath  its  roof  only  foemen  abound; 

Sword  in  hand  let  the  Viking  repose  on  his  shield,+ 
and  his  tent  be  the  azure  around. 

*  Contempt  for  danger  forming  the  criterion  of  honor,  the  sea-rover's  profession 
became  in  the  highest  sense  honorable,  and  afforded  unlimited  opportunities  for  suc- 
cess and  fame. 

Kings  would  fit  out  fleets  for  the  ambitious  princes,  who  vowed  not  to  return  from 
these  expeditions  until  laden  with  plunder  and  glory. 

Many  Norwegian  chieftains,  robbed  of  their  possessions  by  the  all-conquering 
Harald  Harfagra,  removed  to  the  Orkneys,  the  Faroe  and  Shetland  islands,  and  thence 
infested  all  the  Scandinavian  coasts,  and  no  safety  existed  on  the  sea. 

Under  Ragnar  Lodbrook  it  is  said  the  Danish  pirates  outnumbered  the  land  popu- 
lation. 

Many  of  these  sea-robbers  passed  their  entire  lives  on  board  their  ships,  boasting 
of  never  having  slept  in  a  house  or  having  drank  mead  at  their  fireside. 

"Proinde  is  merito  rex  martimus  appellabatur,  qui  sub  fuligiuoso  tigno  somnuni 
nunquam  capiebat,  nee  ante  focum  ex  cornu  potare  solitus  est. — Yngl.  Sag. 

+  "The  Scandinavians  generally  had  shields  of  a  long  oval  form,  just  the  height  of 
the  bearer,  in  order  to  protect  him  from  arrows,  darts  and  stones.  They,  besides,  made 
use  of  them  to  carry  the  dead  to  the  grave ;  to  terrify  the  enemy  by  clashing  their  arms 
against  them;  to  form  upon  occasion  a  kind  of  shelter  or  tent  when  they  were  obliged  to 
encamp  in  the  open  field,  or  when  the  weather  was  bad.  Nor  was  the  shield  less  useful 
in  naval  encounters;  for  if  the  fear  of  falling  into  their  enemies'  hands  obliged  one  of 
their  warriors  to  cast  himself  into  the  sea,  he  could  easily  escape  by  swimming  upon  his 
buckler  of  wood  or  leather."— M.  Mallet,  i,  240. 

227 


"Short  the  haft  of  the  hammer  of  thundering  Thor," 
a  inert'  ell-length  the  sword-blade  of  Frey;+ 

'Tis  enough;  hast  thou  valor,  step  nearer  thy  foe, 
and  thy  blade  will  be  mighty  to  slay. 


"When  the  tempest  is  wild,  hoist  the  sail  up  the  mast! 

It  is  gay  on  the  turbulent  deep! 
Let  it  rage!   Let  it  rage!  Only  cowards  strike  sail; 

furl  it  not,  rather  sink  to  thy  sleep! 


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FREYA 

5  "Maids  are  better  on  land,  bring  not  one  on  the  ship; 

were  she  Freya.  she  yet  would  ensnare; 
For  the  dimple  she  wears  on  her  cheek  is  a  lie,  and 
a  net  is  her  wind-streaming  hair. 

*  Thor's  hammer,  after  having  executed  its  destructive  work  upon  the  object  at- 
tacked, had  the  power  of  voluntarily  returning  to  the  hand  of  its  owner. 

The  sting  of  an  insect  curtailed  the  work  of  the  dwarf  before  he  had  completed  the 
handle  of  the  hammer,  thus  leaving  it  short. 

t  Frey's  sword,  like  Thor's  hammer  and  Frithiof's  Fllida,  possessed  power  of  its 
own,— that  of  dealing  wholesale  death  to  the  enemy,  at  its  owner's  command. 

228 


l*Wine  is  Allfather's  drink,  and  its  pleasure  is  thine, 

if  thon  only  dost  reason  revere; 
He  who  reels  to  the  earth  can  arise. — but  to  Ran, 

to  the  sleep-giver,  totters  he  here. 

"If  a  trader  sail  forth,  thou  mayst  safe-guard  his  ship, 
but  the  weak  will  give  toll  to  the  bold! 

Thou  art  king  of  thy  wave,  he  a  slave  to  his  wealth, 
and  thy  steel  is  as  good  as  his  gold. 

"On  the  deck  spoils  are  portioned  by  dice  and  by  lot, 
how  they  fall  must  thou  never  complain! 

But  the  sea-king*  himself  casteth  none  of  the  dice, 
he  the  glory  alone  would  retain. 


''When  a  viking  is  met,  there  is  boarding  and  strife  9 

neath  the  shield  doth  the  battle  wax  hot; 

Tf  thou  yieldest  a  step,  thou  art  banished  from  us, — 
'tis  the  law,  now  determine  thy  lot! 

*  "Sea-king,  a  chief,  generally  of  royal  blood, who  had  no  kingdom  to  inherit  at  home, 
and  therefore  sought  one  on  the  water.  Higher  in  title  than  the  vikings,  they  were  also 
commonly  at  the  head  of  much  more  powerful  fleets.  Every  sea-king  was  a  viking,  but 
the  reverse  was  only  occasionally  the  case."— Stevens. 

'"Not  only  the  children  of  kings,  but  every  man  of  importance,  equipped  ships  and 
roamed  the  seas  to  acquire  property  by  force.  At  the  age  of  twelve,  the  sons  of  the  great 
were  in  action  under  mutiny  rulers."  — Hist.  Ang.  Sax. 

229 


®Ijr  UtktujLj  (Cnif. 


Shaw's  Translation.         vJrrisicZjf-BCJlCXEZZ.e/JhcZAe&n. 


llnirr. 


i.lunm. 


jM-=- 


,     .Maestoso. 


'^m 


,/•  ".  j&* 


wf^TTfr 


m 


^2 


^ 


:V^ 


J££^  23 


4^y 


&^ 


Now      he    slid-  ed        a    -  round  o'er     ihe 


*^ 


I       l i —        ■ 


^^^ 


* r 


m± 


_i_ 


tc=± 


=T"Jr-?IB 


-A — ^ 


late      seas,      like       a  plun  -  der  •  ing       fal     -    con  he 


sjgP^^Pll^ 


T  •     +      r 


rt- 


V 


^ y— ?■ 


=iF= 


!l    i, 


ij/  .'  'VU  ;.;■ !  nir  g-  g 


#=^=3 


flew;  To  his  comrade11  the  Vi-   kins  gave  man-dates  and  laws;     Wilt  thou 


(j^'wT^i  r  -l/  g^ 


(FiCTSff 


'*     J   ;-;* 


m 


*=^ 


hltf- 


^ 


hear  now      the    law-code  he    drev 


r^fc-kr.;^,,,^^ 


^--* 


> 


&$■ 


' 


10  "If  thou  conquer,  enough!  He  who,  reft  of  his  sword, 

sues  for  peace,  is  a  foeman  no  more: 
Prayer  is  Valhalla's  child,  hear  the  paling  one's  voice; 
he  were  vile  who  tin*  prayer  would  ignore. 

11  '•Wounds  are  laurels  to  Vikings,  adorning  each  man 

on  whose  forehead  or  breast  they  may  stand. 
Let  them  bleed,  bind  them  not  till  the  end  of  the  day. 
if  thou  seekest  to  be  of  our  band!" " 

12  So  he  fashioned  his  code,  and  on  shores  far  removed 

grew  his  name  more  illustrious  still ; ' 
Not  his  equal  he  found  on  the  blue-tinted  sea, 
and  his  champions  fought  with  a  will. 

L3  Vet  he  sat  by  the  helm,  and  his  sorrowful  eye 

did  the  depths  of  the  billows  explore; 
'"Thou  art  deep:  in  thy  bosom  peace  hideth,  perchance, 
but  above  thee  it  dwelleth  no  more. 

14  "If  the  white  god*  is  wroth,  let  him  draw  forth  his  sword; 

T  will  fall  if  such  fate  be  my  doom; 
But  he  sits  in  the  sky,  cloudy  thoughts  sending  down, 
ever  veiling  my  spirit  in  gloom." 

1"'  Vet  when  combat  comes  near,  is  his  hero-heart  roused, 

fierce  as  eagle  refreshed  by  repose; 
And  his  brow  is  unclouded,  his  voice  high  resounds, — 
like  the  Lightened  meets  he  his  foes. 

*"As  in  early  Greece,  piracy  was  originally  in  Scandinavia  an  honorable  and  glori- 
ous path  for  booty  and  exploits."— Stevens. 

•'"Wherever  he  went,  waxed  Frithiof  exceedingly  in  riches  and  fame.  Wicked  and 
cruel  men  and  grimful  Vikings  he  slew,  but  the  peasants  and  merchants  let  he  go  free. 
Again,  therefore,  was  he  called  Frithiof  the  Bold.  Right  many  men,  stout-hearted  and 
true,  had  he  under  him,  and  in  all  kinds  of  precious  goods  abounded  he  exceedingly."— 
S  \'.  \  ok  Frithiof  the  Bold. 

*  Balder. 

$Thor,  who  is  also,  and  more  frequently,  denominated  "the  Thunderer." 

232 


So  from  conquest  to  conquest  he  voyaged  in  turn.  16 

all  secure  o'er  the  foam-whitened  grave; 

And  he  saw  in  the  Southland  both  islands  and  rocks, 
till  he  came  to  the  far  Grecian  wave.* 

When  the  groves  he  discerned  that  stood  out  of  the  waves,l7 

and  the  temples  that  echoed  their  flow. 
What  he  thought,  Freya  knows,  and  the  poet  knows  well, 
and  ah!   lovers,  ye  know  it, — ye  know! 


GREECE. 

"Here  our  home  should  have  been,  here  the  island,  the  18 
grove,  and  the  temple  my  father  portrayed; 

It  was  here,  it  was  here,  that  my  loved   one  T  bade, 
but  all  cold  in  the  Northland  she  staid. 

'The  beauty  of  Greece  has  always  been  a  favorite  theme  with   poets.     Thus  Byron: 
Yet  are  thy  skies  as  blue,  thy  crags  as  wild; 
Sweet  are  thy  groves  and  verdant  are  thy  fields. 
Thine  olive  ripe  as  when  Minerva  smiled, 

And  still  his  honied  wealth  Hymettus  yields. 
There  the  blithe  bee  his  fragrant  fortress  builds, 

The  free-born  wanderer  of  thy  mountain  air; 
Apollo  still  thy  long,  long  summer  gilds, 

Still  in  liis  beam  Mendeli's  marbles  glare  ; 
Art,  Glory,  Freedom  fail,  but  Nature  still  is  fair." 

Childe  Harold,  Canto  II. 

233 


19  "Dwells  not  peace  in  these  valleys  so  sacred  and  fair, 

hold  these  columns  not  memories  long? 
Like  a  whisper  of  love  is  the  fountain's  soft  purl, 
and  the  birds  chant  a  sweet  bridal  song. 

20  "Where  is  Ingeborg  now?  Am  I  long  since  forgot, 

for  a  monarch  time- withered  and  old  ? 
Ah!  I  cannot  forget;  I  my  life  would  resign 
if  her  form  I  again  could  behold. 

21  "Three  long  years  have  gone  by  since  my  laud  I  have  seen, 

where  each  soul  to  proud  exploits  aspires; 
Do  the  glorious  mountains  yet  reach  to  the  skies? 
Is  it  green  in  the  vales  of  my  sires? 

22  "On  the  grave  where  my  father  is  sleeping,  I  set 

once  a  linden-tree, — liveth  it  now? 
And  who  tendeth  the  frail  one?  Give  moisture,  O  earth, 
and  thy  dews,  watchful  heaven,  give  thou! 

23  "But  why  longer  delay  on  these  waters  remote, 

slaying  men,  or  exacting  their  toll? 
I  have  glory  enough,  and  the  glittering  gold, 
paltry  gold,  is  despised  by  my  soul. 

24  "Hangs  a  flag  on  the  mast,  and  it  points  to  the  North, 

where  reposes  mine  own  cherished  earth;* 
I  will  follow  the  track  of  the  heavenly  winds, 

and  once  more  will  set  sail  for  the  North!  " 


The  love  of  native  land  has  always  been  pre-eminently  strong  in  the  heart  of  the 
na 

Tin 


Scandinavian,  especially  when  he  sojourns  under  foreign  skies. 
Thus  St    Pierre  :  "Pour  aimer  sa  patrie,  il  faut  la  quitter." 


234 


(Eatito  ^ixtmttlj. 


In  accordance  with  his  decision,  Frithiof  has  sailed  back  to  the 
Northland  once  more. 

F.llida  lies  ice-bound  on  the  strand  of  Norway. 

Frithiof  is  weary  of  the  restless,  wave-tossed  ocean,  and  though 
opposed  by  Bjorn,  determines  to  visit  King  Ring,  and  bid  Ingeborg 
one  more  farewell — forever. 

Like  truth,  love  crushed  to  earth  will  rise  again.  It  will  awaken 
at  sight  of  temples  where  once  it  hoped  to  dwell ;  at  the  bridal-songs 
of  silvery-voiced  birds  recalling  the  days  of  other  years;  at  the  low 
murmuring  of  fountains  reiterating  long-silent  strains ;  or  at  the  sud- 
den perception  of  some  unusual  odor— some  blossom-dust  of  un- 
earthly sweetness— some  ravishing  fragrance  wafted  from  a  South- 
ern rose-bower  or  tropical  grove— recalling  an  infinitely  tender, 
earth-obscured,  but  never-perishing  memory. 

Over  the  soul  of  Frithiof  sweeps  this  wakened  memory,  like  the 
entrancing  harmony  of  a  harp-tone  borne  over  the  water  on  the 
soft  breeze  of  a  summer  evening.  And  then  all  other  thoughts  be- 
come as  nothing  to  him.  Love  dominates  all.  Not  all  his  cham- 
pions could  dissuade  him  from  his  rash  decision  and  perilous  design. 

Bjorn  beseeches  him  not  to  go,  except  to  slay  the  enemy,  and 
then  not  alone.  But  fearing  nothing,  he  sets  out  with  his  staff,  un- 
attended, over  the  snow-covered  fields  and  hills. 

Frithiof  has  changed.  His  defiance  of  the  norns  has  abated. 
His  viking  life  seems  wrong  to  him.  His  subdued  nature  can  less 
easily  endure  the  wrath  of  the  offended  Balder.  Revenge  now 
sleeps.  Hatred  is  dead.  The  tempest  of  his  outraged  spirit  has 
sir nt  its  fury.  With  what  interest  we  follow  this  subdued  but  un- 
crushed  man  in  his  journey  over  the  pathless  snow  to-day! 


Jflriitjwf  and  ijajiirtt. 


FRITHIOF. 

jPf'  JORN,  I  am  weary  of  wave  and  of  sea ;       l 
i  '        Riotous  comrades  and  wild,  are  the 
surges; 
Back  to  its  mountains  myfosterland  urges. 
Becks  with  a  wondrous  allurement  to  me. 
Happy  is  he  by  his  land  unforsaken, 
Banished  by  none  from  his  ancestors'  graves! 
Long,  ah!  too  long  is  the  voyage  I've  taken, 
Outlawed,  and  tossed  on  these  turbulent  waves. 


""IP 


BJORN. 

Good  is  the  ocean,  now  cease  thy  complaining; 

Freedom  and  joy  ever  dwell  on  its  breast; 

Naught  do  they  know  of  effeminate  rest, — 
Ceaseless  rejoice  they  o'er  waves  to  be  reigning. 

237 


When  T  am  old,  to  the  green-growing  earth 
I,  like  the  grass,  will  be  clinging  tenacious; 

Now,  on  the  ship,  war  and  wine  are  my  mirth, 
Now  smileth  sorrow-free  pleasure  so  gracious. 

FRITHIOF. 

3  Now  does  the  ice  press  our  ship  to  the  land,— 

Hard  round  its  keel  the  dead  waters  now  slumber. 

Not  all  the  long  winter  months  would  I  number 
Bere  amid  rocks  on  a  desolate  strand. 

North  would  I  turn,  as  the  Yule  season  presses,* 
Both  of  King  Ring  and  my  lost  bride  a  guest.— 

Once  more  would  gaze  on  her  golden-hued  tresses, 
Listen  once  more  to  her  accents  so  blest. 

BJORN. 

4  Good!  I  approve;  Viking  vengeance  is  rapture. 

Let  the  old  king  feel  the  brunt  of  its  might; 

Fire  we  his  court  at  the  mid  hour  of  night,+ 
Singe  his  gray  locks,  and  the  fair  one  then  capture! 

Or,  if  we  find  not  unworthy  the  king. 
Chance  thou  wouldst  fight  him  for  causes  not  meager, 

(  hit  on  the  ice-plain  an  isle-duel  bring, — * 
Whate'er  thou  wilt,  I  am  ready  and  eager. 

*Jul  signifies  the  season  of  Christmas,  and  seems  to  derive  its  etymology  from  "liiol,' 
a  wh<  •  I 

"In  old  Runic  Fasti,  a  wheel  was  used  to  denote  the  Festival  ot  Christmas,  and  it 
was  -i j  called  because  of  the  return  of  the  sun' s  annual  course  after  the  winter  solstice. "— 
;  ■.  i  Di 

+  "By  night  or  by  day,  the  fire-brand  indeed  supplied  an  ordinary  and  most  formid- 
able weapon  lor  the  assailance  of  wooden  walls."— Strom,. 

.  "Challenges  to  single  combat  on  some  island  or  rock  on  the  coast  (that  there  might 
neither  he  deceit,  assistance,  nor  escape)  were  the  common  amende  of  offended  Scandi- 
navian honor.  The  whole  system  of  the  old  Northern  States  rested  upon  Individualism 
carried  to  an  enormous  excess.  Its  necessary  consequence,  'might  is  right,'  club-law, 
followed  ;  and  at  last  the  liberties  of  the  people  fell. 

Great  battles  were  sometimes  fought  on  the  ice,' as  the  mountainous  regions  of- 
fered  few  plains  fitted  for  that  purpose."— Stevens. 

An   island-trip   Uiolmgang)  for  the  purpose  of  deadly  combat  was  so  ordinary  a 
proceeding  with  the  Scandinavian  freebooters,  that  the   expression  became  synonymous 
,.i     duel. "  and  is  so  used  in  the  Sogur."— Strong. 

238 


ELLIDA  ICE-BOUND. 


FRITHIOF. 

Speak  not  of  fire,  and  of  war  think  no  more! 

Peace  to  King  Ring  will  from  me  find  expression; 

Xeither  the  king  nor  his  queen  wrought  transgression; 
Vengeance  of  gods  was  my  recompense  sore.* 

Little  of  hope  in  mine  earth-life  remaineth, 
I  would  once  more  greet  the  one  I  hold  dear, — 

One  last  farewell!  And  when  Spring  anew  reigneth, 
Sooner  perchance,  I  again  will  be  here. 

BJORN. 

Frithiof,  no  pardon  is  due  to  thy  madness, — 

Sighing  and  mourning  a  false  one's  deceit! 

Earth  is,  alas!  with  fair  women  replete; 
One  may  be  gone,  yet  a  thousand  give  gladness. 

If  thou  desire,  where  the  Southern  sun  glows 
I'll  go  and  ship  thee  a  cargo  of  others 

Tame  as  young  lambs,  and  as  red  as  the  rose, — 
Then  draw  we  lots,  or  divide  them  as  brothers. 

FRITHIOF. 

Bjorn,  thou  art  candid  and  happy  as  Frey; 

Valiant  in  war,  thou  with  counsel  o'erflowest; 

Oden  and  Thor  thou  assuredly  knowest, 
Yet  dost  from  Freya  divine  turn  away. 

Not  all  the  powers  of  the  gods  may  we  number, — 
Have  thou  a  care,  lest  her  ire  thee  o'ertake! 

Sooner  or  later,  the  sparks  that  now  slumber 
Both  in  gods'  bosoms  and  men's  will  awake. 

BJORN. 

Go  not  alone,  lest  thy  way  be  disputed. 

*  Kor  his  unintentional  destroying  of  Balder's  image  and  the  temple. 

240 


FRITIIIOF. 

Lone  go  I  not,  since  my  sword  waits  on  ni<\ 

BJORN. 

Hagbart,*  recall'st  thon,  was  hanged  to  a  tree! 

FRITHIOF. 

He  who  is  captured,  to  hanging  is  suited. 

BJORN. 

But  shouldst  thou  fall,  to  avenge  thee  I'll  dwell, — 
Carve  on  thy  slayer  the  blood-eagle  glowing.-1- 

FRITHIOF. 

That  will  be  needless,  O  Bjorn!  The  cock's  crowing 
Longer  than  I  will  he  hear  not.     Farewell! 

*  A  Norwegian  prince,  whose  interesting  story  will  be  found  in  Canto  XVII,  foot- 
note. 

t  When  an  enemy  was  to  be  put  to  death  in  an  unusually  atrocious  manner,  the  pic- 
ture of  an  eagle  was  carved  on  his  back,  the  ribs  being  thus  severed  from  the  back-bone, 
and  the  lungs  drawn  out  through  the  opening.  This  inhuman  vengeance  was  wrought 
only  upon  "detested  enemies"  or  "the  most  wretched  villains." 

"Signum  noctuae  (v.  aquilae.)  incisum  tergo  hosti  superati,  et  ita  post  dissectas 
utrinque  costas  omnes  a  tergo  pulmones  per  hanc  aperturam  extrahebantur,  cruento 
et  barbaro  olirn  Normannorum  et  Francorurn  more."  — Rask 

Thus  Ivan,  grandson  of  King  Ring,  put  to  death  King  Ella,  of  Northumberland. 
See  p.  300,  note. 


■ 


(£antfl  $ro?ntmtth. 


Disguised  as  an  old  man  in  a  bear-skin  mantle,  Frithiof  enters 
the  hall  of  King  Ring  at  the  Yule-tide  feast.  The  courtiers  deride 
him,  but  he  seizes  one  of  the  number,  and  with  one  hand  spins  him 
around  in  such  a  manner  as  to  frighten  thoroughly  his  on-looking 
companions. 

The  King  commands  the  stranger  to  approach  and  let  fall  his 
disguise.  He  recognizes  the  youthful  hero,  but  divulges  not  his 
recognition,  — appearing  to  believe  him  a  ship-wrecked  mariner. 

Nor  did  it  require  the  arm-ring  or  Angurvadel,  both  of  which 
Frithiof  bore,  to  reveal  his  identity  to  Ingeborg,  the  Queen,  who 
trembled  and  blushed  and  paled  when  she  passed  him  the  mead- 
horn  as  directed  by  the  King.  The  guest  knew  she  recognized  him, 
and  still  loved  him. 

Frithiof's  bold  and  chivalric  manner  seemed  to  secure  him  the 
King's  hospitable  invitation  to  be  a  guest  during  the  winter,  which 
was  accepted. 

And  a  skald  took  up  the  harp  and  sang  a  song  of  Northern  love 
and  the  glories  of  Valhalla's  heroes,  and  a  jolly  Yule  carousal  en- 
sued, such  as  occurs  but  once  per  year,  — until  sleep  spread  his  wel- 
come wings  over  all. 

The  old  Saga  of  Frithiof  the  Bold  thus  states  of  the  hero  "(  if 
great  consideration  was  he,  and  highly  was  he  esteemed  by  all; 
for  generous  he  was  in  gifts,  and  kind-hearted  and  cheerful  towards 
every  man.  Little  and  seldom  spoke  the  Queen  to  him,  but  by  the 
King  he  was  regarded  ever  with  a  glad  and  smiling  countenance." 


242 


XVII. 
iftrittiinf  (UnntPfl  to  2£uuj  2£ui0. 


1     SVING  RING  upon  his  high-sent  drank  mead      l 
at  Christmas  tide; 


His  queen  so  white  and  rose-red  was  seated  at 


his  side. 
Not  unlike  Spring  and  Autumn  they  looked,  as 

one  would  see ; 
She  was  the  blooming  Spring-time,  the  Autumn 

chill  was  he. 


An  aged  stranger  entered  within  the  royal  hall, 
From  head  to  foot  invested  in  rough  and  shaggy  pall; 
A  staff  his  hand  held  feebly,  and  bended  he  had  grown, 
Yet  high  above  all  others  the  old  man's  form  was  shown. 


r>       Upon  a  bench  he  sat  him,  the  nearest  to  the  door, — 
'Tis  yet  the  poor  man's  station,  as  in  the  days  of  yore; 
The  courtiers  laughed  reviling,  with  interchanging  stare. 
And  pointed  at  the  stranger  in  shaggy  hide  of  bear. 

4  Then  flashed  with  speed  of  lightning  the  stranger's  twin 

eyes  bright, — 
He  seized  with  one  hand  quickly  a  youth  before  their  sight: 
Then  up  and  down  he  twirled  him,  yet  cautious  ne'er  to 

harm. 
While  dumb  stood  all  the  others — as  we  would— in 

alarm ! 

5  "What  means  all  this  commotion?  Who  breaks  the  court's 


repose 


Come  up  to  me,  thou  old  man,  thyself  to  me  disclose! 
What  is  thy  name?    What  wouldst  thou?  Whence  comest 

thou,  make  known!" 
To  nook-screened  guest  the  monarch  thus  spoke  in  angry 

tone. 

6        "0  king,  much  thou  enquirest.  but  I  will  answer  thee: 
My  name  to  thee  I  give  not.  belongs  it  but  to  me: 
My  fosterland  was  Sorrow,  my  heritage  was  Need: 
I  from  the  Wolf  came  hither,  whose  bed  I've  shared  indeed 

">        "In  youthful  days  so  joyous  I  rode  the  dragon's  back; 

The  strongest  wings  he  lifted,  and  safe  pursued  his  track: 
But  now  he  lies  disabled  and  frozen  near  the  land. 
And  T  myself,  now  aged,  burn  salt  upon  the  strand.* 

*  "Perhaps  the  appellation   (salt-seether.  or  salt-burner)  alluded  to  the  old  practice 
mentioned  by  Pliny,  oi  pouring  the  salt-water— muria  — over  burning  embers,  which  pro- 
ne- d  a  black  salt."— Svea  Rik.  Hist. 

At  any  rate,  the  occupation  of  precipitating  salt  from  the  sea-water  seemed  to  per- 
tain to  the  poorest  class  of  people. 

244 


\!  Gl  ST    MAI.MSTRoM 


An  a^ed  stranger  entered  within  the  royal  hall. 
From  head  to  foot  invested  in  rough  and  shaggy  pall; 
A  staff  his  hand  held  feebly,  and  bended  he  had  grown, 
Yet  high  above  all  others  the  old  man's  form  was  shown. 


i  Canto  XVII,   v.   2,  p.    243. 


I  came  to  see  thy  wisdom,  illustrious  everywhere, 
But  I  was  met  with  jeering,  and  jeers  I  will  not  bear; 
'  Mie  fool  by  belt  I  lifted,  and  spun  him  round  and  round. 
But  trust,  since  lie  unharmed  is.  thy  pardon  will  be  found." 


"Not  illy."  said  the  monarch,  udost  thou  select  each  word:  9 
'Idle  aged  should  be  honored;  come  sit  thou  at  my  board! 
Let  fall  thy  cloak  transforming,  that  all  may  see  thee  clear; 
Disguise  destroyeth  gladness ;  I  would  have  gladness  here  " 

Straight  from  the  guest's  head  falleth  the  shaggy  hood,      10 

in  truth; 
Where  stood  an  old  man  hoary,  now  stands  a  graceful 

youth ; 
And  from  his  lofty  forehead,  o'er  shoulders  broad,  unfold 
And  float,  the  shining  ringlets,  like  rippling  waves  of  gold. 

He  stood  before  them  glorious,  in  velvet  mantle  blue         n 
And  hand-broad  belt  of  silver,  with  forest  beasts  in  view: 
To  each  the  skillful  artist  a  form  embossed  had  given. 
And  round  the  hero's  girdle  each  beast  by  each  was  driven. 

The  arm-ring's  golden  circle  his  massive  arm  sustained;      12 
His  battle  sword  hung  by  him,  like  lightning  well 

restrained; 
With  hero-glance  serenly  he  scanned  the  guest-hall  o'er. 
And  stood  as  fair  as  Balder,  and  tall  as  Asa-Thor. 

Amazed,  the  queen's  cheeks  pallid  a  sudden  color  show.      13 
As  Northern  lights  of  crimson  paint  fields  of  spotless  --now; 
As  two  white  water-lilies,  when  storm  the  heaven  cleaves, 
Stand  rocking  on  the  wave-crests, — her  trembling  bosom 
heaves. 

245 


K.1  '.;.     RING.      K 


A  trumpet  stirred  the  guest-hall!  Silence  each  voice       n 

came  o'er; 
This  was  the  hour  for  vowing,  and  in  was  brought  Frey's 

boar:* 
His  huge  mouth  held  an  apple,  a  wreath  his  shoulders 

graced, 
And  on  a  silver  platter  his  bended  knees  were  placed. 

And  now  King  Ring  arising,  with  silvery  flowing  hair,      15 
Doth  straightway  touch  the  boar's  head,  and  thus  his  vow 

declare:1, 
"I  swear  to  conquer  Frithiof,  though  great  he  be  in  war! 
So  help  me  Frey  and  Oden,  and  likewise  mighty  Thor!" 

Forthwith  the  lofty  stranger  arose  with  haughty  glance,    16 
And  flash  of  hero's  anger  illumed  his  countenance; 
He  smote  the  board  with  sword-stroke  that  through  the 

mead-hall  rang. 
And  from  their  oaken  benches  the  watchful  warriors 


sprang 


'"And  now.  Sir  King;  attend  thou,  and  hear  my  solemn      17 

vow : 
Young  Frithiof  is  my  kinsman,  the  youth  full  well  I  know; 
I  swear  to  safe -guard  Frithiof  against  the  world  allied! 
So  help  my  norn  propitious,  and  my  good  sword  beside !" 

'  The  custom  of  serving  the  whole  boar,  swan  or  peacock,  stuffed,  as  well  as  of  vow- 
ing, with  the  hand  laid  upon  the  head  or  back  of  the  victim,  were  in  strictly  prescribed 
form. 

+"Ou  Christmas  eve  it  was  customary  to  lead  out  a  boar,  which  was  consecrated  to 
Frey.  and  which  was  called  the  atonement  boar.  On  this  the  persons  present  laid  their 
hands  and  made  solemn  vows."— Norse  Mythology. 

The  boar's  head  used  to  be  the  first  course  at  Christmas,  with  a  carol,  usually  be- 
ginning thus: 

"  Caput  Apri  defero 
Reddens  laudes  Domino. 
The  bore's  Heade  in  hande  bring  I, 
With  garlandes  gay  and  rosemary, 
I  pray  you    all  Synge  merrily. 
Qui  est:-  in   convivio." 

247 


KNl'T  EKWAL1 


The  queen  then  lifts  the  heaker  before  her  placed,— a  horn 

Treasured  and  of  great  value,   from  head  of  urus  torn; 

(  >n   feet  of  shining  silver,   with   many  a  golden   ring, 

It  stands,   while  antique  emblems  ami  runes  around  it  cling. 

(Canto  XVII,   v.   19,  p.  249.) 
24S 


To  which  the  king  said  smiling:  "Right  haughty  is  thy     18 

word, 
But  in  the  halls  of  Northland,  the  king's  guest  shall  be 

heard. 
The  horn,  O  queen,  replenish  for  him  with  wine  the  besl  : 
And  here  I  trust  the  stranger  will  winter  as  our  guest: 

The  queen  then  lifts  the  beaker  before  her  placed,     a  i.< 

horn 
Treasured  and  of  great  value,  from  head  of  urus*  torn: 
On  feet  of  shininsj;  silver,  with  many  a  golden  ring, 
It  stands,  while  antique  emblems  and  runes  around  it  cling. 

With  downcast  eyes  to  Frithiof  she  gives  the  horn  well    -jo 

filled, 
But  tremulous  her  hand  is,  and  wine  is  on  it  spilled : 
As  evening's  purple  colors  upon  the  lily  lie, 
The  crimson  wine-drops,  glowing,  her  snowy  fingers  dye. 

The  guest  received  with  gladness  the  gift  of  noble  queen;    22 
No  two  men  could  have  drained  it.  that  in  this  age 

are  seen ; 
But  to  the  queen's  own  honor,  the  hero,  at  one  draught.* 
With  ease  and  no   delaying,  the  ruby  liquid  quaffed. 

*A  huge  wood-ox,  or  bison,  once  inhabiting  the  forests  of  central  Europe.  Caesar 
'De  Bello  Gallico)  spoke  of  it  as  nearly  equal  to  the  elephant  in  size,  and  of  great  strength, 
swiftness  and  fierceness,  and  with  large,  sharp,  spreading  horns. 

Some  naturalists  consider  it  the  wild  original  of  the  domestic  ox. 

The  urus-horn  was  a  trophy  of  honor  among  the  German  youth. 

Drinking-horns  were  made  also  of  ox-horn,  ivory  or  wood,  usually  highly  polished. 

Feet  of  gold  or  silver  were  often  provided,  that  the  horn  need  not  be  drained  at  one 
i  ion. 

+The  capacity  to  drain  a  mead-horn  at  a  single  imbibition  was  regarded  as  an 
achievement  to  be  loftily  lauded,  and  a  most  illustrious  hero-attribute. 

The  tossing  off  of  the  contents  of  a  fifteen-inch-around  cornucopiae  at  a  single 
draught,  by  Ulphus  before  the  altar  at  York,  affords  a  strong  presumption  that  capacity 
ind  elasticity  may  be  simultaneously  the  cause  and  result  of  each  other. 

"Now  I  fancied  that  I  could  discover  the  meaning  of  old  Anacreon  in  some  of  his 
bacchanalian  expressions,  from  the  manner  in  which  these  Grecian  topers  drank,  many 
of  whom  filled  two  and  others  even  three  goblets  with  wine:  then  taking  up  one  with  the 
right  hand,  they  applied  it  to  their  lips,  pouring  the  contents  of  the  other  two  into  it 
with  the  left,  and  never  moving  the  cup  from  the  mouth  till  the  whole  of  the  liquor  \v;i* 
dispatched;  these  triplets  were  received  by  the  rest  of  the  company  with  unbou 
applause.— Travels  in  Greece  and  Albana. 

249 


HAGBART  AND  SIGNE. 


Then  seated  at  the  table,  a  skald  his  harp  drew  forth,* 
And  sang  a  tender  saga     ;i  Love-tale  of  the  North — 
Of  Hagbart+  and  fair  Signed  and  at  the  deep  tones  blest, 
The  hardesl  heart  was  melted  within  its  steel-clad  breast, 


22 


He  sang  of  courts  of  Valhall,  of  heroes'  well-earned  peace,  23 
Of  daring  fathers'  exploits  on  battle-fields  and  seas; 
Each  hand  its  sword  was  grasping,  the  fiery  glance  was  cast. 
A  ml  round  the  noisy  feast-hall  the  drinking-horn  went  fast. 

And  now  flow  rich  potations  within  the  regal  house,  24 

In  downright  Yule-time  revel  the  champions  all  carouse; 
Till  free  from  care  or  sorrow  at  length  they  seek  repose; 
But  by  his  beauteous  consort  King  Ring's  tired  eyelids  close. 

*  "At  the  court  of  Harald  Harfager.  the  skalds  sat  on  the  high-seat  close  to  the  mon- 
arch, and  were  held  in  greater  estimation  than  any  of  his  nobles." — Gejer. 

+Hagbart,  a  prince  of  Norway,  son  of  a  king  of  Trondheim,  in  a  viking  cruise  met 
and  battled  with  Alf  and  Alger,  sons  of  the  Danish  king,  Sigar. 

After  a  fierce  struggle,  an  alliance  was  concluded,  and  Hagbart  returned  with  the 
two  brothers  to  the  Danish  court,  as  their  guest. 

There  a  strong  affection  at  once  sprang  up  between  the  hero  and  the  princess  Signe. 
sister  of  Alf  and  Alger,  and  vows  of  betrothal  were  exchanged.  But  the  two  brothers 
enraged  at  this  unexpected  turn,  brought  combat  against  Hagbart.  who  in  saving  him- 
self slew  them  both,  and  then  effected  his  escape. 

His  love  for  Signe, however,  soon  brought  him  back,  disguised  as  a  shield-maid;  and 
despite  the  suspicion  his  large  hands  and  hard-worn  feet  excited  among  the  attendants, 
he  was  admitted  to  her  presence,  and  found  her  heart  unchanged.  Again  she  pledge,; 
eternal  fidelity,  vowing  she  would  not  survive  him,  should  he  be  overtaken  by  death  in 
the  Danish  halls. 

But  Hagbart  was  betrayed  by  the  maidens,  his  identity  as  the  murderer  of  the 
princes  established  by  the  warriors,  who  burst  into  Signe's  apartments  and  made  him 
prisoner,  and  he  was  doomed  by  the  Ting  to  be  executed. 

As  he  is  about  to  ascend  the  ladder,  he  asks  that  his  mantle  be  hung  on  the  tree- 
made  scaffold,  as  a  signal  to  Signe  of  his  approaching  death.     It  is  granted. 

His  love  looks  from  the  window  of  her  maidens'  room,  sees  the  awful  scene,  and 
pursuant  to  her  vow  fires  the  apartment  with  her  torch,  and  kills  herself.  As  she  and 
her  disloyal  maids  thus  meet  their  fiery  death.  Hagbart  triumphantly  exclaims : 

Suing   me  quickly  into    the  air.     In  Valhall   shall   we  be    reunited,    and   future 
times  shall  remember  our  love  and  our  death!" 

The  story  of  Hagbart  and  Sjgne  is  but  one  of  a  multitude  of  subjects  worthy  the  pen 
of  the  tragic  opera  librettist  and  composer,  and  abounding  in  the  fruitful  fields  of  North- 
ern romance. 


lUl!IHllt,UllimUlUIUllllUIUIlUllllllUllllHlllilllllllJ.IIIIIUIIliliitliNl:i  II I nilliMMIIMI II U 1 1 U  L I II I1UIIU,  .11,11,   Mill n   M    i  Him. MM  ir  .ill      ilin„ y 


3umaiinn<iiniuiiiiiuiiiini!iiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin uiuiiih'iiiiki, 


mm, mint, lUWiMiMiiimih imuiniiiHiimmiiuji 


-'5' 


iFritbtof  (EflttKH  to  living  j&ing. 


Unirr. 


JJiami. 


_  Shaw's  Translation.   > 


V*    t      it 


If        m 


All?  Moderate 


King         Ring        up     -     on  his 


MB 


s 


fcvtrfrr 


^m 


h 


¥* 


IP 


=£ 


P 


£33E 


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high  seat       drank   mead      at       Christ  -  mas     tide:  His 


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m^l 


r  '    m 


fey 


E=£ 


^F= 


3S 


Jt 


queen       so      white      and    rose      -  red         was  ■   seat    -    ed         at        his 


m\rp  JTijF^l 


w 


^te^ 


3eee£ 


Not      un     ■     like  Spring  and    Au      -        tuinn    they 


l^P 


'y  „   * 


=^j 


looked,  as      one    would     see; 


She     was  the     bloom   -   ing 


S 


*#s 


1 


i=^=^ 


w^ 


*^$ 


'^ 


^3fei 


^ 


^ 


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&>ro. 


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m^ 


=z 


ps^ 


fe^^L^JCT^g.  jj 


was  the      bloom  •  ing     Spring  -  time,        the        Au  -    tiimn     chill      was 


*%x       y  J^. — 1J---   i 


^k 


(Eantn  iEtghtmttb. 


King  Sigurd  Ring  learns  to  love  Frithiof,  whose  heroic  and 
noble  characteristics  shine  forth  during  the  season  of  his  entertain- 
ment at  the  royal  court;  he  is  constantly  denominated  "the  stran- 
ger,'' by  both  King  and  Queen. 

The  King  finds  in  him  a  faithful  friend  and  companion.  Frithiof 
seems  content  to  see  Ingeborg,  without  conversing  with  her. 

But  one  day,  when  the  King  and  Queen  drive  across  the  fjord 
in  their  sledge,  Frithiof,  who,  with  other  courtiers,  accompanies 
them  on  his  skates,  watchful  and  ready  at  the  moment  of  danger, 
succeeds  in  pulling  their  steed  from  a  chink  of  the  suddenly  broken 
ice  into  which  both  horse  and  sledge  are  descending  (while  the  in- 
sidious Raua  has  eagerly  spread  her  net  below,  in  manner  accus- 
tomed, for  her  anticipated  prey),  and  thus  saves  the  lives  of  his 
host  and  hostess. 

"In  the  mind  of  a  Northman,"  as  Strong  has  so  aptly  expressed 
it,  "his  sledge  is  inseparably  connected  with  pleasing  associations 
of  festive  and  friendly  intercourse.  With  the  gliding  laminae  that 
anii  his  foot  are  bound  up  many  cherished  recollections  of  the  en- 
terprising hunter;  perchance  of  the  veteran  skielober  fighting 
over  again  his  battles,  when  the  snow-skates  of  his  stripling  are 
braced  on.  The  subject  of  this  canto,  therefore,  far  from  descending 
beneath  the  dignity  of  the  Muse,  has  all  the  grandeur  of  nationality; 
and  it  were  as  rational  for  an  artist  depicting  the  clime,  to  omit  the 
representation  of  its  most  characteristic  feature,  as  for  a  poet,  delin- 
eating its  manly  sons,  to  ignore  their  traveling  costume. 

It  is  on  t lie  deck  of  his  ship,  seated  in  his  ice-canoe,  or  mounted 
upon  his  skid,  that  tin  Northman  displays  his  generic  peculiarities." 


254 


XVIII. 

KlNG  RING  to  a  banquet    l 

would  drive  with  his  queen; 
Like  a  mirror  the  ice  o'er  the 

fjord   is   seen. 


■Choose  not  the  ice- journey,"   2 
tlic  stranger  said; 

•■The  ice  will  break,     deep  its  frigid 
bed." 


Said  Ring:  "The  king  is  not  easily  drowned ; 
Who  fears,  let  him  circle  the  bav  around  " 


A  glance  foreboding  the  stranger  cast, 
And  quickly  his  skates  to  his  feet  made  fast. 
255 


5  The  spirited  sledge-trotter  springs  ahead,* 
Breathes  flame  from  his  nostrils,  he  is  so  glad. 

6  "Strike  out,"  cried  the  monarch,  "my  courser  good, 
And  prove  if  thou  earnest  of  Sleipner's    blood!" 

*  "The  horse,  though  a  more  efficient  animal  than  the  reindeer,  and  employed  in 
Norway  as  our  poet  describes,  is  evidently  far  less  in  unison  with  a  sledge  than  the 
horned  courser  of  the  moss  fell.  The  mountain  Lap,  his  wild  steed  and  rude  car,  seem 
to  he  natural  confederates." — Strom,. 

The  inseparability  of  the  sledge  and  the  reindeer  will  perhaps  afford  sufficient  apol- 
ogy for  the  lyric  gem  of  Frauzeu  here  presented,  of  which  I  have  endeavored  to  give  a 
literal  paraphrase: 

THE  LAPLANDER'S  SONG. 

Fly,  my  reindeer  fleet, 

Over  hill  and  plain! 

In  my  love's  domain 
Welcome  shalt  thou  meet; 

Plenteous  moss  below 

Holds  the  drifted  snow. 

Ah  !  So  short  the  day. 

And  the  way  so  long! 

Speed  thee  with  my  song! 
Let  us  haste  away! 

Here  no  rest  is  found, 

Only  wolves  abound. 

Mark  you  eagle's  flight; 

Blest  be  wings  indeed! 

See  yon  cloudlet  speed! 
Were  I  on  its  height,— 

Might  I  thee  descry. 

With  thy  smiling  eye;  — 

Thee  whose  image  mild 

Straight  this  heart  o'ercame; 

So  with  reindeer  tame 
Harness  we  the  wild! 

Swift  as  torrents  roll. 

Moves  to  thee  my  soul. 

All  the  night  and  day 

Since  mine  eyes  met  thine. 

Myriad  thoughts  are  mine; 
Myriad  are  they 

Yet  but  one  alone.— 

That  thou  be  mine  own. 

Though  from  me  thou  hide 

By  the  valley's  stone. 

Or  with  reindeer  flown 
In  the  pineland  bide. 

Vain  retreat  were  thine. — 

Vain  were  stone  and  pine. 


Fly.  my  reindeer  kind. 

<  hi  long  iourney  bent! 

By  my  sweetheart's  tent 
Welcome  shalt  thou  find; 

Stores  of  moss  repose 

Neath  the  veiling  stiows 

256 


They  flew  as  the  tempest  flies  over  the  wave; 
The  king  no  heed  to  the  qvieen's  prayers  gave. 

The  steel-shod  stranger  stands  never  still, 
But  skates  before  and  around  them  at  will. 


SLEIPNER.* 

He  carves  ice-runes  as  he  swiftly  glides, 
And  Ingeborg  fair  o'er  her  own  name  rides. 


So  travel  they  swift  on  their  glassy  way,  10 

While  neath  them  would  treacherous  Ran  betray. 

*  The  eight-footed  gray  horse  of  Oden,  in  swiftness  exceeding  the  wind.      Sleipner 
signifies  slipper,  slider. 

"The  ash,  Yggdrasil, 
Is  best  of  trees; 
Skidbladnir  of  ships; 
Oden  of  asas; 
Sleipner  of  horses; 
Bifrost  of  bridges ; 
Brage  of  skalds; 
Habrok  of  hawks. 

And  Garmer  of  hounds."  —  Grimnkr's  Song. 
Sleipner  typifies  the  winds  that  blow  from  the  eight  directions. 

t'Tn  Skane  and  Bleking,  Sweden,  it  was  customary  to  leave  a  sheaf  of  grain  in   the 
field  for  Oden*s  horse,  to  keep  him  from  treading  down  their  grain." — Anderson. 

257 


KNIT    KKWALL 


They  flew  as  the  tempest  flies  over  the  wave; 
The  kin,^  no  heed  to  the  queen's  prayers  gave. 

The  steel-shod  stranger  stands  never  still, 
But  skates  hefore  and  around  them  at  will. 

Canto  XVIII,    v.  7,  p. 
253 


257.) 


Her  silver  roof  she  asunder  rends,— 
And  into  the  crevice  the  sledge  descends! 


11 


Then  Ingeborg's  cheeks  take  the  hue  of  death,—         l- 
But  the  stranger  is  there  on  the  whirlwind's  breath. 


He  plants  his  skate  in  the  ice  with  speed, 
And  grasps  the  mane  of  the  trembling  steed. 

Then  easily  swings  he,  at  one  swift  bound, 
Both  courser  and  sledge  to  the  ice-plain  sound. 


13 


14 


"That  stroke/'  cried  Ring,  "will  I  prize,  my  son; 
Not  Frithiof  the  Strong  could  have  betterdone!" 


15 


So  they  turned  again  to  the  hall  of  the  king, 
Where  tarried  the  guest  till  return  of  spring. 


16 


m 


259 


a br  41  rp  Sifcp. 


Shaw's  Translation 


.  ITtwrr         in07tlft>H>tt* 


Unite.       te±3T£Z± 


King     Ring      to        a  l>:m   •   quel    would 


^^ 


v.iaiui.       i 


2~2 


?=? 


^ 


— F^ 


foLiJ-^Mf^TIT  J 


^^ 


drive  with  his    queen;  t.ikea  mir  •  ror    the       ice     o'er  the    fjord  is 


^mmtri^m 


-+ — *      - — #„  *,- 


^F 


fry;  /  ^-T^~r^f ^f^— f 


La-      la-    la-    la-      la-       la-  la-         la-        la-     la-      la-  la- 


r/i  i  i 


,0Vv^  a 


wm 


^s 


j:     'i      [-£-£- .J_jl 


g^-,  11  i  ii^^ 


^  [J  .r 


la!        Like  a      mir-  ror      the       ice    o'er    the        fjord  is      seen. 


2^ 


fm 


?m 


^:~-i 


^m 


A        M 


SS 


i 


2 


S 


(Emtio  Nutftrnttlj. 


That  Frithiof's  nobility,  heroism  and  fidelity  have  already  been 
recognized  and  revered  in  the  loftiest  degree  by  King  Ring,  is 
evinced  by  the  extreme  test  to  which  the  host  now  feels  personally 
secure  in  subjecting  these  qualities  of  his  guest.  He  simulates 
sleep,  with  his  head  upon  the  youthful  hero's  knee,  and  this  at  a 
time  when  they  are  alone  and  unseen,  having  delayed  behind  the 
other  members  of  the  hunting  party. 

Loke's  embodiment,  a  coal-black  bird,  from  a  bough  voices  his 
murderous  chant.  But  hark!  A  snow-white  bird  sings  his  peace- 
bearing  strain,  and  prevails.  Afar  hurls  Frithiof  his  sword.  The 
coal-blackbird  flies  down  to  Nastraud;  the  snow-white  bird  soars 
up  to  Valhalla.     Its  sweet  song  falls  like  a  benediction  on  his  ear. 

Unlike  the  Lydian  Tantalus,  Frithiof  has  had  the  power  to  still 
the  wind  that  ceaselessly  blew  the  overhanging  fruit  from  his 
reach ;  like  the  mighty  Fenris,  he  has  submitted,  in  conscious  Sam- 
sonian  manner,  to  voluntary  enchainment,  and  thus  has  attained 
the  greatest  of  all  victories. 

"From  cities  stormed  or  battles  won, 

No  glory  can  accrue; 
By  this,  the  hero  best  is  known,— 
He  can  himself  subdue." 

King  Ring  arouses  himself.  He  has  seen  and  understood  the 
great  temptation  and  the  greater  triumph.  Then  he  shows  his  ad- 
miration of  Frithiof's  integrity  by  offering  him  sonship  and  a  home 
until  li is  own  death  shall  also  restore  to  him  his  lost  Ingeborg. 

"I  thank  thee,  O  King,  but  already  have  I  tarried  too  long. 
Once  more  desired  I  to  behold  my  bride,  and  depart.  Fool  that  1 
was!  My  heart-flames  burst  forth  more  wildly  than  before.  I  ana 
an  exile.  No  peace  remains  forme.  I  must  betossed  by  wind  and 
wave,  and  bear  the  wrath  of  the  offended  god  who  will  not  forgive. 

"Bear  me,  my  good  FHida,  afar  on  my  billows  once  more,— far 
as  the  stars  shall  guide,  faras  the  thunder's  voice  is  heard.  Glad 
shall  I  fall,  and  rise  purified  to  the  pardon  on  earth  denied." 


262 


w 


XIX. 
if  rttljtof  s  Skmptattntt. 

(HOMES  the  spring-time,  twitter  warblers,       1 

buds  the  forest,  smiles  the  sun, 

And  the  loosened  rivers  murmuring  to  the  sea 

are  dancing  on; 

Glowing  like  the  cheeks  of  Freya,  from  their  buds  the 

roses  glance, 

And  in  human  hearts  awaken  hope  and  love  to  radiance. 

263 


2       For  the  chase  the  old  king  longeth,  and  the  queen  must 

with  him  go, 
All  the  court   is  now  assembling,  and  in   varied  garb 

aglow; 
Bows  are  twanging,  quivers  rattling,  stallions   restless 

paw  the  ground, 
And  the  hungry  hooded-falcons  shriek  upon  their  prey 

to  bound.* 


A  FALCON  HUNT. 
(From  the  Bayeux  tapestry.) 

3       See!  The  hunting  queen  is  coming!  Wretched  Frithiof, 

veil  thy  sight! 
Like  a  star  in  sky  of  spring-time  sits  she  on  her  pacer 

white, — 
Half  a  Freya,  half  a  Rota,+  far  more  beauteous  than  the 

two, 
While  above  her  hat  of  purple  wave  aloft  the  feathers 

blue. 

*  The  Northmen  were  devoted  to  the  chase,  deriving  therefrom  supplies  for  food  and 
clothing,  and  employing  hawks  and  hounds,  the  training  of  which  Tacitus  mentions  as 
an  early  art  of  the  North. 

Queen  Elizabeth  was  extremely  fond  of  the  chase. 

"A  special  hunt." — I  translate  from  Kabricius— "was  the  falcon  hunt,  which  was  in 
early  times  already  known  in  the  North;  and  foreign  kings,  as  the  English  King  John, 
bought  falcons  in  Denmark.  This  bird  of  prey  was  trained  to  hunt  other  birds  in  flight 
The  ialcon-hunter  must  ride  on  a  horse,  to  be  able  to  travel  with  the  rapid  chase  over 
sticks  and  stones.  On  his  left  hand  carried  he  the  hawk.  When  he  saw  some  prey,  with 
a  throw  he  suddenly  loosed  the  bird,  which  rose  in  the  air,  and  with  the  speed  of  lightning 
dropped  down  upon  its  victim.  Its  sure  sight,  sharp  claws  and  sharp,  bent  beak  usually 
gave  it  the  victory  over  its  prey.  Not  only  in  Denmark  and  Norway  was  this  sort  of  hunt 
common,  but  also  in  Iceland.  Several  Northern  kings  are  embroidered  in  the  tapestry, 
with  a  hawk  upon  the  hand  or  at  the  side." — Hist,  of  Denmark. 

t  One  of  the  Valkyries,  spoken  of  in  the  Edda  (Gylfag.)  as  an  equestrian,  leading  the 
heroes  on  to  combat. 

264 


THE  HUNTING  PARTY 


4  Dwell  not  on  those  eyes  supernal,  look  not  on   those 

locks  of  gold! 
Of  that  lithesome  waist  be  wary,  to  those  ample  charms 

be  cold! 
Gaze  not  on  the   rose  and  lily  ever  changing  on  her 

cheek, — 
Be  thou  deaf  to  those  dear  accents  that  like  vernal 

breezes  speak! 

5  Now   the    hunting   band   is    ready.   Hear   the    horn's 

resounding  call 
Over  hill  and  dale,  while  upward  soars  the  hawk  to 

Oden's  hall. 
And   the  forest-tenants   fleeing    seek    their  homes  in 

many  a  cave, 
While  pursuing  come  valkyries  who  their  spears  before 

them  wave.* 

6  Old  King  Ring  cannot  long  follow  where  the  wandering 

huntsmen  fly, 
And  alone  with  him  rides  Frithiof,  with  grave  heart  and 

silently; 
Dark  and  cheerless  meditations  in  his  tortured  breast 

have  grown, 
And  where'er   his  eye  is  turning,  still   lie  hears  their 

mournful  tone. 

7  "Why  did  I  forsake  the  ocean,  to  mine  own  destruction 

blind? 
On  the  wave    no    grief    can    nourish,    driven    afar   by 
heavenly  wind. 

*This  pastime  also  prevailed  in  much  oi    Europe.     Fingal  had  a  thousand  hunters 
Alfred  the  Great  was  described  as  a  "most  expert  and  active  hunter"  before  lie  was  twelve 
years  of  age.     Walter,  lip.  of  Rochester,  made  hunting  his  sole  employment  at  tne 
eighty,  to  the  sad  neglect  of  his  office.       2gr 


Broods  the  Viking?   Perils  gather,   and  invite    him  to 

the  dance: 
Then    his    somber    musings    vanish,    dazzled    by    the 
weapons'  glance. 

''But  alas!  Here  all  is  altered;  longings  strange,  and  all       8 

untold, 
Wave  their  wings  around  my  forehead,  and   my  soul  in 

dreams  enfold; 
Balder's  grove  is  ever  with  me,  and  the  oath  is  youthful 

now 
She  there  swore. — she  did  not  break  it, — 'twas  the  grim 
trods  broke  the  vow! 


SOGNE  FJALLEN. 

(From  Balder" s  Strand.) 

"For,  despising  all  that's  human,  angered  by  all  pleasures      9 

blest, 

Of  my  rose-bud  they  have    robbed    me.    planting    it   in 

Winter's  breast. 

267 


What  would  Winter  with  my  floweret?     Comprehends 

he  not  its  price, 
But  his  freezing  breath  is  shrouding  bud  and  leaf  and 

stem  in  ice.*' 

10  Thus  repined  he.     They   had  entered  then  a  solitary 

dale. 
Dark  and  narrowed,  'twixt  the  mountains  (birch  and 

alders  there  prevail), 
When  the  king  dismounted,  saying,  "Cool  and  sweet 

the  woodlands  smile! 
I    am   weary, — let   us    tarry!  I    would    slumber    here 

awhile." 

11  "Here,  O  king,  thou  must  not  slumber,  for  the  ground 

is  hard  and  cold; 
Sleep  will  come  not; — up!  I'll  bear  thee  to  thy  palace, 

monarch  old." 
"Sleep,  like  other  gods,  approaches  when  no  signs  are 

manifest: 
Will  my  guest  not,"  said  the  old  man,  "grant  his  host 

an  hour  of  rest?" 

12  Then   the   guest   removed   his   mantle,  made  upon  the 

ground  a  bed, 
And  on  Frithiofs  knee  the  sovereign  quickly  laid  his 

trusting  head, 
Slept   as   calm    as   sleeps    the  hero  after   battle's   wild 

alarm 
On  his  shield, — as  calm   as  slumbers    babe  upon  its 

mother's  arm. 

*  Here  is  an  opportunity,  and  an  inviting  one,  to  avenge  the  destruction  of  his  life, 
to  remove  the  barrier  betwixt  himself  and  his  love,  to  attain  his  only  desideratum.  The 
hero  tramples  it  beneath  his  feet. 

26S 


M  (Jl  -I    MALMSTROM 


Then  the  guest  removed  his  mantle,  made  upon  the  ground  a  bed. 
And  on  Frithiof's  knee  the  sovereign  quickly  laid  his  trusting  head, 
Slept  as  calm  as  sleeps  the  hero  after  battle's  wild  alarm 
On  his  shield. — as  calm  as  slnmhers  babe  upon   its   mother's  arm. 

(Canto  XIX,  v.    12,  p.   268. 


13  As   he  slumbers,   hark!    A  coal-black   bird  is  singing 

from  a  bough: 

"Haste  thee,  Frithiof,  slay  the  gray-beard,  end  the  bat- 
tle with  hirn  now! 

Take  his  queen;  to  thee,  her  bride-groom,  once  the 
trysting  kiss  she  gave; 

Here  no  mortal  eye  can  see  thee, —  deep  the  silence  of 
the  grave! " — 

14  Frithiof  listens;  hush!    A   snow-white  bird  is  singing 

from  a  tree: 

"Though  no  mortal  eye  behold  thee,  Oden's  eyes  un- 
failing See; 

Craven,  wouldst  thou  murder  slumber?  Wouldst  an 
old  man  helpless  slay? 

Though  thou  win,  a  hero's  glory  must  be  won  another 
way."* 

15  Thus   the   two  birds  sang;  but  Frithiof  quickly  seized 

his  sword  of  war, 
Hurling   it   in   terror  from    him  to    the  dusky   grove 

afar. 
Flew  the  coal-black  bird  to  Nastrand,+  — but  upon  twin 

pinions  light 
Soared  the  other  like  a  harp-tone  tuneful  toward  the 

sunshine  bright. 

16  Soon  the  aged  king  awakens :  "Much  did  that  brief  rest 

accord! 
In  tin-  shade  one  sleeps  so  sweetly,  shielded  by  a  hero's 
sword. 

*  "Gifted  birds,  or  rather  spirits  in  their  shape,  are  a  'divine  machinery,'  frequently 
introduced  in  the  ballads  and  sagas  of  the  North." — Stevens. 

"Many  also  in  the  North,  as  in  idolatrous  Israel,  asserted  that  they  could  under- 
stand the  cries  of  birds,  so  that  they  became  a  language  studied  with  great  zeal  both  by 
kings  and  peasants."— Loi.an.  270  t  See  p.  131. 


KM  T   EKWALl 

Frithiof  listens;  hush'    A  snow-white  bird  is  singing  from  a  tree: 
'•Though  no  mortal  eve  behold  thee,  Oden's  eyes   unfailing  see; 

Craven,   wouldst  thou  murder  slumber5    Wouldst  an  old  man  helpless  slay? 

Though  thou  win,  a  hero's  glory  must  be  won  another  way." 

(Canto  XIX,    v.    14,   p.  270.) 

271 


Yet,   where   is   thy   sword,  O  stranger?     Lightning's 

brother  — where  is  he? 
Who  hath  parted  you,  that  never  each  from  each  should 

parted  be?" 

17  Frithiof  said:  "It  matters  nothing;  swords  enough  are 

in  the  North ; 

Sharp  the  tongue  of  sword,  O  monarch;  ne'er  for  con- 
cord speaks  it  forth. 

In  its  steel  dwell  evil  spirits  from  the  dusky  Nif el- 
hem,* 

Sleep  is  not  from  them  protected,  locks  of  silver  madden 
them!" 

18  "Sleep  has  not,   O  youth,  enwrapped  me;  I   thy  faith 

have  verified; 
For  a  prudent  one  ne'er  trusteth  man  or  battle-blade 

untried. 
Thou  art  Frithiof;  and  I  knew  thee  when  thou  in  my 

hall  hadst  stepped; 
Old  King  Ring  discerned  the   secret    which    his   wise 

guest  would  have  kept. 

19  "Why   didst   thou,   disguised   and   nameless,   seek  my 

dwelling  and  my  grace? 
Why,  if  not  his  bride  to  wheedle  from  the  aged  king's 

embrace? 
In  the  guest-hall,  Frithiof,  Honor  never  nameless  doth 

advance; 
Like  the   sun,  her  shield  is  shining,  and  sincere  her 

countenance. 

*  The  nebulous  world,  the  world  of  cold  and  darkness, in  whose  midst  is  the  fountain 
Hvergelmir,  whence  flow  twelve  ice-cold  streams,  and  where  dwells  the  dragon  Nid- 
hcigg.  To  this  nethermost  of  the  nine  worlds  rode  Oden  on  Sleipner,  to  inquire  after  the 
fate  of  Balder,    See  page  129.  072 


Rumor  told  of  one  called  Frithiof,  feared  alike  by  gods     20 

and  men, 
Who  with  equal  valor  pressing,  cleft  a  shield  or  burned 

a  fane; 
Soon  with  war-shields — I  suspected —  would  he  move 

against  this  land; 
And  he  came; — but  in   torn  vestments  with  a  beggar's 

staff  in  hand. 


•"Wherefore  stand  with  eyes  now  downcast?    Once  I  too     21 

was  young,  in  truth ; 
From  its  morn  is  life  a  struggle,  but  its  fiercest*  thin-  is 

youth ; 
Youth  must  needs  be  pressed  in  battle,  till  its  frenzied 

mood  be  tamed; 
I  have  proved  thee  and   forgiven,  and  in  pity  have  not 

blamed. 


"Thou  canst  see  I  am    grown  aged,  soon    must  sleep     22 

within  my  shrine; 
Therefore, youth,  receive  my  kingdom!  Take  my  queen; 

she,  too,  is  thine; 
Be  my  son,  till  then   abiding  in   my  palace   as  before! 
Let  a  swordless  champion  guard  me,  let  old  feuds  sleep 

evermore." 

*  I„it.  "berserk.''     The  berserk's  paroxysm,  at  first  feigned,  later  became  genuine. 
"It  was  their  custom  (the  sons  of  Angrim)  if  at  any  time  with  their  men  alone  they 
found  the  berserk-course  overtaking  them,  to  disembark  and  vent  their  fury  on  rocks  and 
trees:  for  they  had  been  so  unfortunate   as  to  kill  their  own  men  when  this  tit  came  upou 
them."— Hervarar  Saga. 

273 


23  Frithiof  answers  sadly -."Never  as  a  thief  came  I  to  thee; 
Had  I  sought  thy  queen  to  capture,  who  were  strong  to 

frustrate  me? 
But  a  nameless  longing  filled   me,  ah!  once  more,   my 

bride  to  view ; 
Madman  was  I!    For  I  kindled  all  the   smouldering 

flames  anew. 

24  "In  thy  halls  too  long  delaying,  I  no  more  will  be  thy 

guest ; 

All  the  wrath  of  gods  embittered  on  my  conscious  head 
doth  rest. 

Balder,  of  the  locks  all  golden,  he  who  holds  each  mor- 
tal dear, 

Me  of  all  my  race  despises,   I  alone  renounced  appear. 

25  "Yea,  I  burned  his  sacred  temple;  fane-prof  aner  me 

they  call; 
At  my  name  shriek  little  children,  joy  departeth  from 

the  hall. 
Banished  from  his  angered  country  must  the  lost  son 

dwell  apart; 
I  am  outlawed  in  my  homeland,  I   am  outlawed  in  my 

heart. 

26  "Not  upon    the   earth    green-growing    will  I  seek    for 

peace  long  past. 
Burns  the  ground  beneath   my  footstep,  trees  o'er  me 

no  shadows  cast; 
Ingeborg   from    me    is    taken,    she    received    the  aged 

King; 

O'er  my  life  the  sun  has  darkened,  only   night-shades 

round  me  cling. 

274 


•"Therefore,  outward  to   my  billows!     Let   us  fly,    my      27 
dragon  good! 

Bathe  once  more  thy  pitch-black  bosom  joyous  in  the 
saline  flood; 

Wave  thy  pinions  in  the  storm-clouds,  cut  the  sea  that 
hissing  raves, 

Fly  as  far  as  leads  the  star-light,  far  as  waft  the  van- 
quished waves! 

•'Let  me  hear  the  tempest's   thunder,  let    me  hear  the     28 

lightning's  voice! 
When  it  rumbles  round  about  me,  then  shall  Frithiofs 

heart  rejoice. 
Clanging  shields  and  hailing  arrows!  Where  the  waves 

to  battle  call, 
I,  in  purity  and  gladness,  to  the  gods  appeased  will 

fall!" 


'■   r  law 

fill  svs- 


WmM 


275 


(Caulu  auiruttctlt. 


The  sun  of  spring  has  risen.  His  beams  bathe  the  King's  hall. 
Frithiof  comes  to  say  his  last  farewell: 

"Ellida  longs  to  fly  from  the  strand.  I  leave  my  land  and  my 
love  forever.  Once  more,  Ingeborg,  I  give  thee  this  arm  ring;  part 
from  it  never.  Come  not,  O  King,  with  thy  queen  to  the  shore,  lest 
the  waves  bear  my  body  to  her  feet." 

Said  Ring:  "Repine  thou  not.  Valhalla  calls  me.  Take  my 
queen;  preserve  my  kingdom  for  my  growing  son.  Peace  have  I 
sought,  but  I  fear  not  the  sword.  Now  am  I  carving  death-runes 
to  Oden.    Not  for  Northern  kings  is  bloodless  death!" 

Deeply  the  glittering  steel  cuts  its  crimson  paths  in  his  arms 
and  chest.  Greets  he  Valhalla's  gods,  presses  the  hands  of  queen, 
sou  and  guest,  and  his  royal  spirit  speeds  with  a  sigh  to  Allfather's 
breast. 

The  King  has  defeated  death  before  its  arrival,  and  Frithiof  be- 
fore his  departure.  He  has  given  up  all  he  had— even  life  itself— 
to  restore  to  each  other  the  lovers  whom  he  had  severed. 

Does  this  undo  the  awful  wrong  and  injustice  of  having  made 
Ingeborg  an  unwilling  bride?  Had  he  been  happy  in  the  possession 
of  an  involuntary  queen?  Does  the  demanding  of  Ingeborg's  hand, 
when  her  heart  and  soul  were  Frithiof's,  comport  with  the  other 
qualities  of  so  noble  a  man  as  King  Rintc  is  pictured?  Each  must 
frame  his  own  answer.     (See  Canto  V,  stanza  12.) 


276 


►HEENFAX.*  that  shaketh  1 

Grold-mane,  at  spring's  call 
Draws   from    the    wave   brighter  sun  than 
before. 
Morn's  beam  that  breaketh, 
Plays  in  the  king's  hall 
Doubly  more  fair: — sounds  a  knock  at  the 
door! 

*Or  Skinfax,  the  steed  of  the  shining  mane,  driven  across  the  heavens  by  Day  in  his 
successive  journeys.     See  page  106.     Fax=mane. 

Nott  (Night),  mother  of  Day.  was  likewise  given  by  Oden  a  steed,  Hrimfax  (Rime- 
mauel  that  bedewed  the  earth  with  the  foam  from  his  bit. 

277 


Filled  with  emotion, 
Frithiof  appeareth ; 
Pale  sits  the  monarch ;  fair  Ingeborg's  breast 
Heaves  like  the  ocean; 
Farewell  she  heareth 
Murmured  in  tremulous  tones  of  the  guest: 


"Sea-washed  lies  yonder 
Winged  wave-ranger,  — 
Longeth  the  sea-horse*  to  fly  from  the  shore. 
Far  must  I  wander 
Now  as  a  stranger, 
Leaving  my  land  and  my  love  evermore. 


DRAGON  SHIP. 
(From  the  Bay eux  tapestry.) 

"Once  more — forever — 
This  ring+  I  leave  thee; 
Memories  sacred  have  hallowed  its  worth. 
Part  with  it  never! 
All  I  forgive  thee: 
Thou  wilt  behold  me  no  more  on  the  earth. 

*  Ellida.    The  term  was  very  commonly  applied  to  a  dragon  ship. 
+  Placed  on  her  arm  by  Krithiof  at  their  parting,  before  his  journey  to  the  Orkneys. 

278 


"Northern  smoke  rolling 
Upward  in  motion 
Ne'er  shall  I  see  again.  Man  is  a  slave; 
Norns  are  controlling: 
On  the  waste  ocean 
There  is  my  fatherland,  there  is  my  grave. 


THE  NORNS. 

"Ne'er  must  thou  wander. 
Ring, — least  when  hover 
Pale-gleaming  stars,  with  thy  queen  to  the  strand! 
Lest  the  sands  yonder 
Grimly  discover 
Frithiof  the  Vikings  bones  washed  to  the  land!"' 


Then  Ring  responded: 

"Hard  is  it,  hearing 
Hero  lament  as  a  maiden  would  sigh. 
Death's  chant  has  sounded, 

Swift  mine  ear  Hearing; 

What  more  remains?     He  who  liveth  must  die. 
279 


8  From  norns'  dictation 

Naught  can  deliver; 
Cold  to  remonstrance  it  yieldeth  to  none. 
My  queen,  my  nation. 

Take  from  the  giver; 
Guard  thou  my  crown  till  the  growth  of  my  son!* 

9  "Guests  have  I  given 

Kingly  devotion, 
Striving  that  golden  peace  e'er  should  be  known. 
Yet  have  I  riven 

Shields  on  the  ocean, 
Shields  on  the  land,  nor  have  pallid  e'er  grown. 

10  "Now  am  I  writing 

Runes  at  Death's  portal; 
Natural  exit  ill  fits  Northern  king! 
Feebly  are  biting 

Wounds  that  are  mortal; 
Death  is  not  keener  than  life  in  its  sting." + 

11  Now  he  carves  gory 

Letters  to  Oden — * 
Death-runes  so  deep  on  his  arm  and  his  breast; 
Gleaming  in  glory, 

Blood-currents  redden 
Quickly  the  silver-white  hairs  on  his  chest! 

*RagnarLodbrok,  son  of  King  Ring  and  his  first  wife,  Alfhild,  and  hero  of  one  of 
the  Norse  sagas. 

•King  Ring  had  no  intention  of  permitting  Frithiof  to  anticipate  him  in  departing. 

tTo  carve  one's  self  to  Oden.  or  to  apply  geirsodd  (spear-point)  to  one's  breast  and 
arms,  was  a  substitute  for  battle-death,  and  was  the  customary  exit  from  earth-life  of  the 
Northern  heroes.     Battle-wounds  or  suicide  robbed  death  of  its  victory. 

A  hero  exit  must  be  a  gory  one.  thus  bearing  semblance  to  martial  death;  and  for 
this  final  exploit  the  chief  clad  himself  in  his  richest  armor. 

The  straw-dead— those  who  died  in  bed  or  of  old  age  — went  down  to  the  realm  of 
Hela  andobliyiou,  the  home  of  the  Eiuheriar  in  Valhall  being  denied  him.    See  page  112. 

2  So 


-       MM.MsTI.'clM 


"From  norns'  dictation 

Naught  can  deliver; 
Cold   to  remonstrance  it  vieldeth  to  none. 

My  queen,  my  nation. 

Take  from  the  »iver; 
Guard  thou  my  crown  till    the  growth  of  my  son!" 

Canto  XX.    v.  8,    p.    280. 


>tafig  '.fFf>faffeRitfjs%fp  Sfpffff* 


DEATH-RUNES  SO  DEEP. 


12  "Bring  me  wine  mellow! 

Skoal*  to  thee  ever, 
Skoal  to  thine  honor,  thou  glorious  North ! 
Harvests  ripe-yellow; 
Minds  idle  never, 
Exploits  of  peace — these  I  loved  on  the  earth. 


13 


"Vainly  mid  slaughter 
Waged  by  kings  wildly, 
Lone  sought  I  peace  but  she  fled  from  my  sight; 
Now  the  Tomb's  daughter, 
Smiling  so  mildly, 
At  the  gods'  knees  is  awaiting  my  flight. 


HEIMDAL 


♦Literally,  a  bowl;  the  expression  most  frequently  used  in  proposing  a  health,  or 
drinking  a  toast.  282 


ICttuj  ftitufa  Dratb, 


Shaw's  Translation. 


cJhwc  i,rJ?C/?/--mr.f/<rAAr ;'m 


ami.     < v      <S$. 


'V  U'i  L_  '^' 


ft.*J  j  ■  ir  ff  pl;J  J  ^  j.jl'  ^ 


break  -  etti.  Plays      in-     the  king's  hall         Donb-ly  more  fair:  —  sounds  a 


M  £' 


"Hail,  sons  of  heaven,  14 

Asas  supernal! 

Earth  fades  away;  Gjallarhorn*  to  your  feast 
Bidding  has  given; 
Glory  eternal 
Crowns  as  a  gold-helm  the  hastening  guest!" 

When  he  had  spoken,  15 

Pressed  he  the  clinging 
Hands  of  his  queen,  son,  and  friend,  o'er  and  o"er. 
Closed  eyes  gave  token 
His  soul  was  winging 
Flight  with  a  sigh  to  Allfather  once  more.f 

*The  trumpet  of  Heimdal,  the  celestial  warden,  the  St.  Peter  of  the  Xorse  mythology. 
it  is  heard  through  all  the  worlds.  It  announces  the  final  Ragnarok.  Heimdal  dwells  in 
Himinbjorg,  at  the  end  of  the  rainbow,  being  placed  on  the  celestial  borders  to  prevent  the 
giants  from  forcing  their  way  over  the  bridge.  He  is  so  acute  in  sense  that  he  can  hear 
the  growing  of  the  grass,  and  of  the  wool  on  sheep.  He  can  see  one  hundred  miles 
equally  elearly  in  light  or  darkness.  He  requires  no  sleep.  "He  slumbers  not,  neither 
is  he  weary".     He  is  also  omniscient.     Like  Balder,  he  is  also  called  "the  white  god." 

In  one  hand  he  holds  a  sword  (Hofud),  in  the  other  his  trumpet.  On  the  last  day  he 
slays  Loke. 

+  The  death  of  a  Northern  hero  is  thus  portrayed  in  the  Swan  Song,  translated  into 
English  by  Herbert: 

"Cease,  my  strain!  I  hear  a  voice 

From  realms  where  martial  souls  rejoice. 

I  hear  the  maids  of  slaughter  call, 

Who  bid  me  hence  to  Oden's  hall. 

High-seated  in  their  blest  abodes. 

I  soon  shall  quaff  the  drink  of  gods. 

The  hours  of  life  have  glided  by; 

I  fall,  but  smiling  I  shall  die," 

— Death  Song  of  Ragnak  Lodbrok. 


285 


(Eanlu  Suinttg-iFirflt. 


King  Ring,  together  with  his  sword,  his  steed,  and  other  pos- 
sessions, is  immured  in  the  sepulcher,  and  the  customary  earth- 
mound  raised  over  him. 

The  steed  bears  him  over  Bifrost  to  Valhalla,  where  Oden  sig- 
nals that  the  wine  cups  be  brought  out,  in  honor  of  the  guest;  Frey 
encircles  him  with  a  chaplet  of  corn-ears,  and  Frigga,  the  wife  of 
Oden,  binds  blue  blossoms  about  his  brow;  and  Brage,  the  god  of 
Poetry,  chants,  with  accompaniment  of  the  harp  which  now  sounds 
more  soft  and  beautiful  than  before,  the  virtues  of  the  new-arrived 
and  greatly  beloved  monarch. 

The  preservation,  in  the  translation,  of  the  original  alliterative 
form  of  this  canto  (the  three  words  of  alliteration  occuriug  on  ac- 
cented syllables),  greatly  enhances  the  difficulties  of  translating. 
In  each  couplet,  three  of  the  four  accented  syllables  must  begin 
with  the  same  letter,  the  remaining  accented  syllable  must  begin 
with  a  different  letter.  This  consonant-reduplication  Tegner  has 
made  especially  effective.  This  is  the  form  of  stanza  usually  em- 
ployed by  the  Northern  skalds  in  their  songs,  universally  used  in 
the  poems  of  the  Elder  Edda,  and  is  distinctly  characteristic  of  Ice- 
landic versification,  even  down  to  modern  times. 


2S6 


rf-.ui 


lW'   ft 


Si 


XXI. 

BJutflfs  @rapa.* 

Sits  in  his  mound-grave 
Mighty-born  monarch ; 
Sword  by  his  side  lies, 
Shield  on  his  arm.+ 
Neighs  his  steed  near  him, 
Noblest  of  chargers, 
Stamping  with  gold-hoof, 
Ground  of  the  grave.* 


*  I. it.,  a  dirge  or  funeral  song,  apotheosizing  a  hero's  death.  Cf.  p.  77. 
i  >  [en  left  the  mandate:  "Alia  dauda  menu  skykli  brenna"  ("all  dead  bodies  should 
be   burned).     This  custom  continued  in  Scandinavia  until  Frey  was  buried  at  (Tpsala 
The  crematory  period  was  called  the  Pile  Age  (Bruna-auld),  after  which  succeeded  the 
sepulture  period,  called  the  Hill  Age  (Haugh-auld). 

!  I*  was  a  prevalent  custom  in  ancient  Europe  to  bury  the  dead  under  hills  or 
mounds  of  earth.  "Apud  majores  potentes  aut  sub  moutibus  aut  in  montibus  sepeliun- 
tui . " 

Thi- distinguished  dead  were  honored  with  high  mounds  or  barrows.  A  vault  or 
mortuai  \  chamber  was  thus  mounded,  and  tin-  body  within  was  sometimes  laid  on  a  flat 
Stone,  buried  in  sand,  or  placed  in  a  sitting  mist ure,  as  seems  to  have  been  the  case  here. 
The  barrows  usually  had  two  or  more  vaults,  and  east  or  south  passages  on  the  same 
level. 

With  the  dead  hero  it  was  quite  customary  to  bury  his  living  horse,  to  bear  him 
over  Bi frost  to  Valhalla. 

The  Saga  Hgils  states  that  Asmund  intern-  1  with  Aran  both  his  hawk  and  his  hound. 

"The  cairns  are  almost  always  heaped  up  on  heights  along  the  shore.     .     .     The  old 


287 


Rides  now  the  royal 
Ring  over  Bifrost; 
Swayed  by  its  burden, 
Bends  the  long  bridge. 
Yalhall's  vast  portals 
Part  for  his  passing; 
Asa-hands  holy 
Hang  now  in  his. 


THORS  BATTLE  WITH  THE  GIANTS. 


Thor  afar  wanders, 
Waging  dread  warfare; 
Oden  has  beckoned, — 
Beakers  are  brought: 


a  of  the  Northland  must  have  believed  that  their  dead  heroes  still  lived  on  the 
heights,  and  so  placed  their  cairns  where  they  should  still  hear  the  sound  of  the  sea,  and 
at    over  its  great  blue  expanse  — the  wide  field  of  their   activity,   danger  and  tri- 
umph."—Sweden  and  thk  Swedes. 

*  Thor  is  called  the  Crusher,  the  Defender,  the  Weapon  of  the  World,  the  Conqueror 
of  the  Serpent,  the   Enemy  of  Giants,  the   Friend  of   Man.     His  wagon   is  pulled  by  two 
Thunder  and  lightning  herald  his  coming.     He  is  the  tireless  enemy  of  the  giants, 
at  whose  devoted  heads  he  hurls  his  death-bearing  mallet. 

288 


Prey  with  a  corn-wreath* 

Covers  the  kind's  crown, 
Frigga*  binds  beauteous 
Blossoms  of  bine. 

Brage,  the  gray  god, 
Graspeth  the  gold  strings; 
Soundeth  a  softer 
Strain  than  erewhile. 
Vanadis,*  leaning, 
Lingers  to  listen; 
Burning,  her  bosom 
Beats  as  she  hears: 

•<  Jeaseless  the  sword-stroke 
Sounds  on  the  helmet; 
Redden  the  boisterous 
Billows  with  blood; 
Arm-strength,  the  glorious 
Gift  of  the  good  gods, 
Battling  as  berserk,1 
Biteth  the  shield! 

"Malice  we  the  hero 
Held  in  devotion. 
Who  with  his  shield  e'er 
Sheltered  the  state: 


*  In  Kngland.  as  late  as  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  it  is  said  brides  wore  garlands 
of  corn-ears. 

•'The  wife  of  Odea  was  also  called  Frea  or  Kricca.  and  was  largely  worshiped  i: 
many.     She  was  called  Holda  by  the  Franks.  Bertha  by  theBavarians.  and  Isis  by  Tacitus 
She  occupies  with  Oden  the  castle   Illidskialf  in  the  clouds,  and  her  n>ck  is  Orion  s 
belt.     While  she  foresees  the  fate  of  men,  she  reveals  the  future  to  none.     Frigga  person- 
ifies the  all-producing  earth. 
\  surname  of  Freya. 
"  The  berserk,  during  his  paroxysmal  fit,  howled  like  a  wolf,  ran  amuck  at  all  he  met 
and  "bit  his  shield." 

2S9 


Foremost  and  fairest 
Figure  of  tried  strength 
Soars  like  a  sacrifice 
Smoke  to  the  sky. 


VALFADER  AND  SAGA, 

"Valfader*  voiceth 
Verdicts  of  wisdom, 
Seated  by  Saga, 
SoqvabakV  maid. 
Thus  clear  the  royal 
Ring's  words  resounded, 
Melting  like  Mimer's* 
Murmuring  strains. 


*  Valfader  =  Oden;  literally,  father  of  the  slain. 

+  The  brook  of  absorption,  on  whose  shore  is  the  mansion  of  Saga,  with  whom 
Oden  communes  and  drinks  mead  from  golden  goblets. 

$1  n  the  war  between  Asas  and  Vanes,  the  latter  having  received  Mimer  as  a  hostage, 
decapitated  him,  and  sent  his  head  to  Oden.  It  became  oracular,  and  was  thence  Oden's 
counselor  and  adviser. 

Virgil's  head  was  likewise  said  to  prophesy. 

2  go 


I      snaw's  Translat 


Shaw's  Translation,      .njiyj/uif.  nfaYe&jirfitrr.  .mr-.~  ,■ 


M      0  — g 


JJiann. 


c^lj  J;ijf  rnnr  r  r  gFi^ 


side   lies.  Shield  on  his  arm.  Neighs  his  steed  near  him, No-blest  of  chargers. 


^m'iOM^fr--- f 


"Friendly  Forsete* 
Filiates  wranglers; 
Justice  he  wields  by 
Ufd's+  welling  wave. 
Thus  ruled  the  kindly 
King  o'er  his  kingdom, 
('aiming  all  rancor, 
Righting  the  wrong. 

"Niggardly  never, 
Nobly  bestowed  he 
Beds  of  the  dragons,* 
Daylight  of  dwarfs.5 
Bountiful  gave  he 
Gifts  from  his  great  heart, 
Tenderly  softened 
Suffering's  sting. 


*Son  of  Balder  and   Nanna,  and  the  god  of  justice.     His  castle  is  Glitner.     All  dis 
putants  who  bring  their  cases  before  him  are  promptly  reconciled. 
"Glitner  is  the  tenth  mansion 
It  is  on  gold  sustained, 
And  also  with  silver  decked. 
There  Forsete  dwells 
Throughout  all  time, 
And  every  strife  allays." — The  Lay  of  Grimnkk. 

The  sanctity  of  the  assembly  and  purity  of  justice  is  expressed  by  tlie  golden  col- 
umns and  the  silver  roof  of  Glitner."— Anderson. 

"At  Heligoland  his  (Forsete's)  temple  and  priests  were  held  in  high  reverence."— 

ENS. 

"The  dawn,  which  forms,  as  it  were,  golden  pillars  supporting  the  silvery  dome  of 
the  sky,  may  be  compared  to  Glitner;  and  evening,  which  disposes  all  the  sorrows  of  the 
raging  day,  to  Forsete,  restoring  unity  and  contentment."— Hachmeister. 

I' "The  fount  of  time,  under  that  root  of  the  ash,  Ygdrasil— the  Paradisaical  tree  of 
knowledge  — which  extends  to  the  .F.sii  .  Beside  this  fount,  accordingly,  they  collect 
daily,  to  hold  their  tribunal;  that  a  draught  of  the  water  of  experience  may  be  constantly 
within  their  reach.  Near  this  well.  too.  stands  the  beautiful  palace  of  the  Nornir,  Fates; 
i,  Verdandi,  Skulda— Past,  Present.  Future.  The  water  is  so  sacred, that  everything 
immersed  therein  becomes  white  as  the  lining  membrane  of  an  egg-shell.  From  two 
swans,  tenants  of  this  Hood,  sprang  the  earthly  race  of  these  snow-white  aquatics.  Per- 
chance these  immortal  birds  chant  the  death-song  of  those  doomed  by  the  Fates,  as  their 
mortal  congeners  are  reported  to  hymn  their  own."— Strong. 

Il-'afmr.  having  assumed  the  dragon's  form,  slept  upon  the  Niebelungen  treasure 
which  he  took  after  slaving  Hreidmar,  his  father.  Thus  gold  is  called  "the  dragon's 
bed." 

$A  subterranean  race  of  dwarfs  was  believed  to  exist,  whose  light  came  from  the 
\  eins  of  gold  beneath  the  earth.     Hence  gold  is  also  called  "the  daylight  of  dwarfs." 

The  old  Scandinavian  skalds  had  many  synonyms  for  gold;  as,  Agir's  fire,  Freya's 
tears,  the  flame  of  the  wrist,  the  fire  of  the  stream,  etc. 

292 


FORSETE,  GOD  OF  JUSTICE. 


10 


Welcome,  O  worthy 
Wise  heir  of  Valhall! 
Long  will  thy  loved  name 
Live  in  the  North. 
Greeting  thee,  Brage* 
Bears  thee  the  beaker, 
Peace-pledge  of  Noma 
Known  through  the  North." 


*  It  is  Brage  who  relates  the  ancient  traditions  of  the  Younger  Edda.     He  and  Heim- 
dal  welcome  the  heroes  to  Valhalla. 

"He  draws  the  flood  of  poesy,  which  streams  from  his  lips,  out  of  the  fount  of  Mi- 
mer;  for  to  him  and  Oden  alone  has  it  been  permitted  to  taste  of  that  well  of  knowl- 
edge. A  multitude  of  mysterious  runes  are,  moreover,  engraven  upon  his  tongue, 
imparting  to  every  effusion,  whether  prosaic  or  poetical,  irresistible  fascination."  — 
Strong. 


VALKYRIES  CONDUCTING  FALLEN  HEROES  TO  VALHALLA. 


(Eantn  ®utrtttt|-S>rron&. 

The  people  are  summoned  to  elect  King  Ring's  successor. 
Equipped  with  brightly  polished  swords,  shields  and  helmets,  they 
assemble  at  the  Ting-stone,  in  open  council. 

The  fifteen-year  old  son  of  Ring  stands  with  Frithiof,  but  is  de- 
clared to  be  too  young  to  be  elected  monarch,  although  by  right  of 
primogeniture  he  inherits  the  kingdom,  according  to  the  universal 
law  of  sovereignty  among  the  Celtic  nations. 

But  Frithiof  elevates  him  on  his  shield,  proclaiming  him  King, 
and  swearing  in  the  name  of  Forsete,  Balder's  son,  the  god  of  jus- 
tice, to  guard  his  reign  and  realm  with  arms. 

Then  he  is  received  as  King,  under  the  guardianship  of  Frithiof, 
until  the  child-monarch  shall  have  matured. 

The  people  in  enthusiasm  would  then  give  Ingeborg  to  the  un- 
selfish hero  who  could  resist  the  offer  of  the  kingdom  in  the  face  of 
so  palpable  a  cause  for  acceptance  as  the  childhood  of  the  legiti- 
mate heir;  but  the  norns  must  determine  his  fate,  with  whom  he 
even  now  has  an  appointment  to  consider  his  cause.  They  must 
execute  the  will  of  Balder,  who,  having  taken  away  his  bride,  can 
alone  restore  her. 

Frithiof  here  calls  them  the  "shield-maids,"  as  also  the  Val- 
kyries are  sometimes  called,  because  of  their  martial  equipage;  of 
whom  Depping  writes:  "La  languedu  Nord  a  encore  tin  terme  par- 
ti, ulier  pour  les  jeunes  femmes  assez  hardies  de  courir  les  hasards 
de  la  nier,  et  de  se  couvrir  d'armures  pesantes.  Les  Sagas  les  ap- 
pellent  Skoldmoe;  et  elles  citent  des  traits  nombreux  de  leur 
heroisme." 

<To  meet  these  maidens  of  fate,  Frithiof  must  journey  again  to 
Sogne, — to  Fra minis,  —  to  his  father's  mound.  Then  will  be  revealed 
to  him  the  right— which  he  of  all  things  now  desires. 

Kissing  the  new  king's  brow,  Frithiof  vanishes  over  the  heath. 


296 


'k> 


^ 


XXII. 
(Jhr  King's  iElerttmt. 

"k®0  TING!  To  ting! "  Across  the  land  l 

The  bid-stick  goes.* 
"King  Ehig  is  dead;  the  hour's  at  hand 

A  king  to  choose!" 


The  yeoman  from  the  wall  removes 
His  sword  steel-blue; 
. .. | >^K V  J 1*  edge  his  finger  careful  proves, — 


Its  bite  is  true. 

His  sons  behold  its  purple  sheen 

With  deep  delight; 
The  sword  is  raised  each  two  between  — 

One  is  too  slight. 


A  one-foot  runic  staff  sent  from  house  to  house,  summoning  the  Ting. 

297 


4  The  daughter  polishes  the  helm 

To  luster  rare, 
While  blushes  sweet  her  visage  whelm, 
Reflected  there. 

5  At  last  he  takes  his  circling  shield, — 

A  sun  in  blood.* 
All  hail,  free  champion  ensteeled, 
Thou  peasant  good! 

6  The  nation's  honor  in  thy  heart 

Doth  e'er  rejoice. 
In  war  our  country's  wall  thou  art. 
In  peace  its  voice. 

7  So  they  are  summoned  by  the  sound 

Of  shields  and  swords. 
To  open  court;  heaven's  vault  around 
Their  roof  affords. 

8  Then  Frithiof  mounts  the  Assembly  stone, 

And  by  him  then' 
The  royal  child,  a  little  one, 
With  golden  hair. 

9  From  all  the  throng  a  murmur  came: 

"Too  small,  by  far. 
The  royal  son  our  laws  to  frame, 
Or  lead  to  war! — " 

*  Shields  were  of  ten  painted  in  brilliant  colors  and  with  exquisite  taste.  'Scuts 
tantuni  lectissimis  coloribus  distinguunt." — Tacitus. 

"In  the  compositions  of  the  Bards  we  often  find  allusions  made  to  painted  targets 
Si  imetimes  they  are  called  red,  at  other  times  spotted,  varied  or  checkered." — Lo<;an 

"The  Swedes  never  came  to  a  sacrifice,  Ting,  or  other  assembly,  unarmed.  This 
custom,  through  the  Goths  and  other  Northern  tribes,  spread  over  the  whole  of  Europe.' 
— Dalin. 

298 


But  Frithiof  on  his  shield  lifts  up 

The  child  of  Rim-* 
"Here,  Northmen,  lies  your  nation's  hope, 

Look  on  your  king! 


10 


"Behold  of  ancient  Oden's  race 
The  image  free, 

That  doth  the  shield  as  lightly  grace 
As  fish  the  sea. 


11 


SCANDINAVIAN  TING-PLACE. 


"I  swear  his  kingdom  to  uphold 

With  sword  and  spear, 
And  place  the  father's  crown  of  gold 

On  son  so  dear. 


12 


*  A  token  of  honor,  respect  or  reverence. 

"When  Baldwin,  Count  of  Flanders,  was  invested  (1204)  by  the  Crusaders  witli  the 
Eastern  purple,  the  barons  and  knights,  agreeably  to  Byzantine  custom,  elevated  the 
E£mperor  on  a  buckler,  and  bore  him  to  the  church  of  St.  Sophia." — Mills's  Crusaim  S. 

+  Ting  (or  thing)  was  originally  applied  to  a  conference,  or  convocation,  and  later 
to  its  site:  the  latter  usually  had  a  large  stone  at  its  summit. 


299 


13  "Forsete,son  of  Balder  threat, 

My  vow  doth  know; 
And  if  the  oath  I  violate. 
Shall  strike  me  low!" 

14  The  child*  sat  on  the  lifted  shield, 

Like  king  on  throne. — 
(  >r  eaglet  in  a  cliff  revealed, 

That  eyes  the  sun. 

15  At  last,  too  long  for  childish  blood 

The  stay  he  found, — 
And  to  the  ground  he  sprang,  and  stood, — 
A  kingly  bound! 

16  Then  high  the  cry  rose  from  the  Ting: 

"The  North  in  truth 
Electeth  thee! — Be  like  King  Rinii', 
O  shield-borne  youth ! 

17  ''Till  grown,  by  Frithiof's  word  abide, 

Thou  childish  heir. 
Receive,  Jarl+  Frithiof,  for  thy  bride 
His  mother*  fair." 

*Ragnar  Lodbrok  began  to  reign  at  15.  His  third  wife,  Krake,  whom  he  found  as  a 
beautiful,  but  poorly  clad  girl  in  a  hut,  but  whose  superior  intelligence  he  admired 
proved  later  to  be  of  far  less  humble  parentage  than  he  had  supposed. 

Uti   real  name  was  Aslaug.  and  she  was  the  daughter  of  Sigurd  Fafnersbane  (the 

elebratedsla  ■  Iragon,  the  Siegfried  of  the  German  myth)  and  his  wife  Brunhilda, 

the  valkyrie.    To  secure  her  safety  from  his  enemies,  her  grandfather,  Heimir,  concealed 

her  in  his  harp,   thus  guarding  her   until  he  was  murdered  by  peasants  in  search  of  the 

golden    treasure,  instead   of  which   they   found   the   child. 

Ragnar  executed  numberless  successful  Viking  expeditions. 

His  last  was  against  King  Ella  of  Northumberland.  The  gods  sent  the  valkyries  to 
warn  him.  It  was  ol  no  avail.  After  a  full  day's  hard  fighting,  Ragnar  was  captured  and 
thrown  into  the  den  of  snakes,  to  hisdeath. 

While  there,  he  is  said  to  have  penned  the  famous  Swan  Sung,  the  final  stanza  ol 
which  is  yiven  on  page  283,  note,  and  which  has  been  paraphrased  into  many  tongues. 

Later,  Kan.  son  of  Ragnar  and  Aslaug,  made  Kin;;  Ella  prisoner;  and  avenged  the 
awful  death  of  his  father,  bv  having  the  King  stretched  out  upon  a  stone  altar,  and  the 
blood-eagle  carved  upon  him. 

This  mode  of  applying  death  is  described  on  page  241,  q.  v. 

art. 
tHis  step-mother.     His  mother  was  Alfhild,  King  Ring's  first  wife. 

300 


"To-day,"  thus  Frithiof  dark  replied, 

"Your  king  proclaim, 
But  not  a  marriage;  and  my  bride 

Leave  me  to  name. 


18 


"To  JBalder's  temple  I  proceed, 

Where  congregate 
My  norns  to  meet  me;  there,  indeed, 

E'en  now  they  wait. 


19 


"Their  true  and  ultimate  decree 

I  go  to  prove. 
The  shield-maids  build  beneath  Time's  tree, 

And  oft  above. 


20 


"The  light-haired  Balder's  ire,  still  shown, 

For  me  burns  sore; 
He  took  my  heart's  bride, — he  alone 

Can  her  restore." 


21 


Straight  greeted  he  the  new-made  king, 

And  kissed  his  brow, 
And  o'er  the  heath  was  vanishing, 

In  silence  now. 


2-2 


301 


(Irnxta  iitornttj-tittprd. 


It  had  grown  toward  the  evening.  The  sinking  sun's  soft  beams 
fell  peacefully  over  the  earth,  lulling  to  rest  the  desire  for  ven- 
geance against  the  two  brothers  who  had  darkened  his  life,  and 
reducing  to  contrition  the  irascible  spirit  that  had  led  to  the  destruc- 
tion of  Balder's  temple. 

Frithiof  stands  amid  the  haunts  of  his  childhood,  — hears  the 
same  birds  in  the  forest,  smells  the  same  fragrance  of  flowers,  reads 
the  same  runes  of  Iugeborg  and  himself  upon  the  birches;  but  the 
temple  is  no  more. 

Frithiof  has  abandoned  a  kingship— perchance  even  Iugeborg  — 
obedient  to  a  loftier  impulse  than  that  which  is  engendered  of 
earth.  He  has  journeyed  back  to  Sogne  to  lay  his  all  upon  the 
altar  of  his  God. 

In  humility  he  stands  at  the  tomb  of  Thorsten,  his  father.  He 
has  come  to  ask  for  light  and  knowledge,  — to  learn  how  he  may 
atone  for  the  temple's  loss,  and  regain  the  favor  of  Balder. 

Even  men  forgive.  Balder,  who  is  the  most  merciful  of  all  the 
gods,— would  he  be  deaf  to  human  prayer? 

Long  waits  Frithiof,  but  no  voice  speaks  from  his  father's  grave, 
none  murmurs  in  the  billows,  none  whispers  in  theeveuing  breezes. 

The  sun  has  set.  Behold,  a  vision  !  A  beautiful  mirage  rises 
over  the  Western  waves,  approaching  to  the  site  of  the  temple, 
whose  form  it  assumes,  with  all  its  walls,  pillars  and  lofty  dome. 
And  Frda  points  to  the  blackened  ruin,  and  Skulda  to  the  vision  of 
the  temple  restored! 

Instantly  comes  to  Frithiof's  soul  the  glorious  light.  Now  he 
clearly  discerns  the  will  of  the  uorns,  and  clearly  reads  the  answer 
oi  his  father.  He  must  rebuild  the  temple.  He  will  hasten  to  place 
upon  its  site-  a  far  greater  and  fairer  fane  than  before,  atoning  thus 
for  former  guilt,  and  attaining  the  pardon  of  the  propitiated  god. 

And  he  sweetly  sleeps  upon  his  father's  mound. 


|§pll  Jfirtthtnf  at  lj|is  Jflat^r's  (Srau*. 

^4r^      WOW  fair  the  sunlight  smiles,  how       l 
jgfeis.  grateful  leapeth 

From  bough  to  bough  each  beam  in 
splendor  here! 
' r-  '■■  \.y '?•:'*' "  Allfather's  glance,  in   dews  which 

evening  weepeth, 
As  in  his  world-wide  sea,  gleams  pure  and  clear! 
In  crimson  hues  the  mountain-tops  he  steepeth ; — 
'Tis  blood  on  Balder's  hearth  that  doth  appear! 
Soon  slumbers  all  the  land  on  night's  dark  pillow, 
Soon  sinks  the  golden  shield  beneath  the  billow. 

3°3 


"Yet  would  I  wander  first  mid  these  dear  places, — 
My  childhood  friends  that  I  have  loved  the  best. 

The  same  sweet  evening  flower  the  meadow  graces, 
The  self-same  forest  birds  wake  carols  blest. 

The  self-same  wave  to  shore  its  fellow  chases; — 
Oh,  that  I  ne'er  had  rocked  upon  its  breast! 

Of  fame  and  glory  falsely  speaks  the  ocean, 

Bears  us  from  home-dales  far,  with  ceaseless  motion. 


THE  FJORD  OF  SOGNE. 

"I  know  thee,  flood,  where  erst  the  mighty  swimmer 
Was  lightly  borne  upon  thy  billows  clear. 

I  know  thee  well,  O  vale,  where  in  the  shimmer 
Of  heaven  we  pledged  a  faith  that  springs  not  here. 

Ye  birches,*  too,  upon  whose  bark  ne'er  dimmer 
Have  grown  the  many  runes  I  carved  sincere; 

<  )'er  your  white  trunks  the  rounded  crowns  yet  hover; 

All  things,  save  me,  alas!  no  change  discover. 

*  The  white,  smooth  bark  of  this  most  common  and  most  beautiful  of  Northern 
trees,  adapted  it  exceptionally  both  to  the  reception  and  retention  of  runic  characters 
carved  upon  it. 

See  page  36,  stanza  27. 

304 


"Is  all  unchanged?     Stand    Framnas'  halls  paternal,      4 

And  Balder's  fane  still  on  the  hallowed  strand? 
Ah!  Fair  the  valleys  in  life's  season  vernal, 

But  through  them  passed  the  sword  and  fiery  brand; 
Both  wrath  of  gods  and  men's  revenge  infernal 

Speak  to  the  wanderer  o'er  the  fire-charred  land. 
Devoted  pilgrim,  come  not  here  to  ponder, 
For  untamed  beasts  in  Balder's  grove  now  wander. 

"There  haunteth  every  life  beneath  the  heaven  5 

The  demon  Nidhogg*  from  the  world  of  night; 

He  hates  the  asa-mark  that  stands  engraven 
( )n  hero's  brow  and  sword  that  flashes  bright. 

Each  ireful  deed,  enacted  by  a  craven, 

Stands  forth  his  tribute  to  infernal  might. 

And  when  he  prospers  by  a  fane's  cremation. 

He  claps  his  coal-black  hands  in  exultation. 

"Is  there  no  pardon  then.  Valhalla  father?  6 

( )  blue-eyed  Balder,  takest  penance  none? 

E'en  men  take  ransom  for  a  fallen  brother,-1- 
And  gods  absolve  men  at  the  altar-stone. 

'Tis  said  thy  grace  is  equaled  by  none  other; 
( lommand!  Whate'er  thy  word,  it  shall  be  done. 

No  will  was  mine  to  burn  the  temple  hoary; 

O  cleanse  from  stain  my  shield  that  shone  in  glory. 

*  The  dragon  of  the  nether  world  (Xifelheim),  that  gnaws  the  root  of  Yggdrasil,  and 
muti'  ies  of  the  dead. 

"The  tree  Yggdrasil 
Bears  a  sorer  burden 
Than  men  imagine; 
Above,  the  stags  bite  it. 
On  its  sides  age  rots  it, 

Nidhogg  gnaws  below  "— Thi    Eldi  r  t'.hka. 
Nidhogg  symbolizes  the  infernal  power.  Satan,  as  Yggdrasil  does  the  tree  of  li 
"Cirses  piled  beneath 
:ng  Nidhogg  lay; 
There  the  wolf  of  death 
Rent  his  pallid  prey."— Voldspa. 
f  The  ancient  provincial  laws  had  a  code  of  penalties  for  bodily  injury  or  murder, 
whereby  one  could  absolve  himself  from  the  blood-revenge  of  his  victim's  relati1 

305 


7  "Thy  burden  take  away;  I  faint  thereunder; 

Draw  from  my  soul  that  awful  shadow's  veil; 
May  not  a  life's  sincere  contrition  sunder 

The  bar  to  pardon,  if  but  once  we  fail? 
I  tremble  not,  e'en  at  the  god  of  thunder, 

I  meet  unmoved  the  eyes  of  blue-white  Hel. 

0  pious  god,  with  glance  as  moonlight  tender, 

1  fear  alone  the  vengeance  thou  canst  render. 

8  "Here  lies  my  father.  Is  he  sleep-enshrouded? 

Ah!  He  has  journeyed  whence  return  is  none. 
He  dwells  neath  azure  tent  of  sky  unclouded, 

And  joyous  drains  the  horn  mid  war-shield's  tone. 
Thou  asa-guest,  look  down  from  star-fields  crowded; 

Thy  son  doth  call  thee,  Thorsten  Viking's  son! 
On  neither  runes  nor  spells  have  I  depended, 
O  teach  me  to  appease  the  god  offended! 

9  "And  has  the  grave  no  tongue?  Entombed  did  waken 

Great  Angantyr,*  when  for  his  sword  implored. 
Though  great,  let  Tirfing's+  worth  be  ne'er  mistaken 

To  equal  that  I  ask;  ne'er  for  a  sword 
Prayed  I.  The  combat  gave  it.  But  forsaken 

May  I  through  thee  to  pardon  be  restored. 
O  guide  my  darkened  glance  and  step  benighted; 
A  noble  mind  by  Balder's  wrath  is  blighted. 

*  One  of  the  most  famous  holmgangs  of  Northern  story  was  that  between  Angantyr, 
an  island  chief,  and  Hjalmar,  a  Swedish  leader,  his  successful  rival  for  the  hand  of  Inge- 
bjorg,  daughter  of  the  King  of  Upsala. 

The  fight  was  so  long  and  furious  that  it  was  said  the  smoke  ascended  from  their 
nostrils  as  from  a  fiery  furnace.    Both  heroes  fell. 

Meantime  Oddr,  foster-brother  of  Hjalmar,  having  slain  successively  Augantyr's 
eleven  champions,  entombed  the  twelve  with  Angantyr's  magic  sword  Tirfing,  which  he 
lad  asked  might  be  buried  with  him.  should  he  fall;  then  bore  to  Upsala  the  body  of 
Hjalmar,  whose  affianced  died  broken-hearted  and  was  buried  in  the  tomb  with  her  lover 

+  "The  dwarfs  also  manufactured  the  mythical  sword.  Tirfing,  which  could  cut 
through  iron  and  stone,  and  which  they  gave  to  Angantyr.  This  sword,  like  Frey's,  fought 
of  its  own  accord,  and  could  not  be  sheathed,  after  it  was  once  drawn,  until  it  had  tasted 
blood.  Angantyr  was  so  proud  of  this  weapon  that  he  had  it  buried  with  him;  but  his 
daughter  Hervor  visited  his  tomb  at  midnight,  recited  mystic  spells,  and  forced  him  to 
rise  from  his  grave  and  give  her  the  precious  blade.  She  wielded  it  bravely,  and  it  event- 
ually became  the  property  of  another  of  the  Northern  heroes."— Myths  of  Northern 
Lands.  306 


10  "Thou'rt  silent,  father!  Hear  the  sounding  billow; 

Sweet  is  its  tone;— speak  in  its  voice  so  free! 
The  storm  is  flying;  make  its  wing  thy  pillow, 

And  as  it  passes,  whisper  thou  to  me! 
The  west  is  set  in  rings  of  glowing  yellow. 

Let  one  of  them  thy  spirit's  herald  be! 
No  sign,  no  token  for  thy  son  forsaken; 
How  poor,  alas!  are  those  by  death  o'ertaken!"  * 

11  The  sun  is  quenched;  the  evening  winds  in  measure 

Sing  lullabies  to  earth-sons  from  the  sky. 
The  after-glow,  with  all  its  golden  treasure, 

On  rosy  wheels  drives  round  the  brim  on  high. 
In  valleys  blue,  and  o'er  the  hills  of  azure, 

A  fair  Valhalla-vision  draweth  nigh. 
X<  >w  comes,  from  out  the  Western  wave  ascended, 
A  rustling  shape,  by  golden  flame  attended. 

12  By  us  'tis  called  mirage,  this  heavenly  wonder; 

In  Valhall,  sweeter  sounds  its  name,  I  ween; 
And  soft  o'er  Balder's  grove  it  hovers  yonder. 

A  crown  of  gold  upon  a  ground  of  green. 
The  glorious  image  gleams,  above  and  under. 

With  splendor  ne'er  before  by  mortal  seen; 
Till  to  the  temple's  site  its  pathway  making, 
It  sinks  to  earth,  the  temple's  figure  taking.* 

*Frithiof  is  not  yet  ready  to  yield  himself  to  the  supreme  joy  lie  doubtless  feels 
awaits  him  in  the  love  of  Ingeborg.  He  has  so  long  objurgated  the  norns,  against  whom 
his  unhappy  life  has  constantly  evoked  bitter  malt-dictions,  that  he  must  first  seek  to 
remove  this  stain  from  his  conscious  soul;  and  whither  should  he  go  to  seek  assistance. 
knowledge,  hope' 

Whither  was  a  vague  expectation  of  illumination  more  likely  to  lead  him  than  to  that 
spot  most  of  all  revered  by  him— alone  revered  by  him? 

Must  the  wise  counsel  and  learned  instruction  of  Thorsten  be  forever  barred  by  the 
tomb?  Is  his  father  less  fitted  to  enlighten,  now  that  he  dwells  in  the  realm  of  light?  Ah  ! 
Frithiof  must  follow  this  impulse  to  the  final  and  only  barrier  that  lies  between  them  — the 
portal  of  the  grave. 

over,  a  hero's  soul  was  believed  to  inhabit  his  tomb. 

'The  fantastically  painted  Western  sky,  like  the  masses  of  cumulated  summer 
clouds,  might,  aided  by  a  little  imagination,easily  assume  tangible  and  definite  forms  in 
1-rithiof's  now  impressible  mind,  thus  clearly  creating  the  concept  of  a  gorgeous  and 
wonderful  temple.  308 


13  Its  lofty  wall  a  Breidablick  *  reflected, 

And  from  the  cliff  in  silvered  luster  shone. 
Of  deep-blue  steel  each  pillar  was  perfected, 

Of  one  rich  gem  was  carved  the  altar-stone. 
Its  dome,  as  borne  by  spirit-hands,  projected 

A  winter-heaven  all  clear  and  star-bestrown. 
There  ValhalPs  gods,  in  sky-blue  robes  invested, 
Sat  high,  and  crowns  of  gold  upon  them  rested. 

14  And  lo !  Upon  their  rune-carved  shields  inclining, 

The  lofty  norns  within  the  portal  stood, — 
Three  rosebuds  in  a  single  urn  inshrining, — 

A  solemn  yet  a  charming  sisterhood. 
Mute  Urda  to  the  burnt  fane  points  repining, 

And  eager  Skulda  to  the  fane  renewed.* 
And  scarce  could  Frithiof's  mind  itself  recover, 
•        In  joy  and  wonder,  ere  the  scene  was  over. 

15  "Maidens  of  Time,  well  is  your  thought  projected; 

This  is  thy  sign,  my  hero-father  good!* 
Another  temple  straight  shall  be  erected, 

To  grace  the  cliff  where  erst  the  old  one  stood! 
Ah !  Blest  when  peaceful  deed  has  been  elected 

As  true  atonement  of  youth's  froward  mood! 
The  wretch  may  hope  again,  though  hope  were  riven, 
And  by  the  gracious  white  god  be  forgiven. 

*  The  castle  of  Balder  in  the  heavens.  "There  is  also  a  place,  called  Breidablick, 
than  the  which  no  spot  is  more  fair."— The  Younger  Kdda. 

The  walls  are  of  gold,  the  roof  of  silver;  and  here  nothing  impure  may  enter. 

t  The  norn  of  the  Past  points  out  Frithiof's  sin ;  the  norn  of  the  Future  its  necessary 
atonement. 

"The  principle  of  religion,  ?ong  torpified  through  the  chill  of  adversity,"  suggests 
Strong,  "has  been  visited  by  a  ray  of  returning  weal,  and  is  regaining  its  vivacity.     Piety, 
b<  aring  her  fair  offspring  Hope,  is  leading  hack  the  estranged  one  to  his  God.     .     .     . 
Atonement  may  be  devised,  offered,  accepted;   and  then  Ingeborg,  then   Frithiof,  shall 
smile  once  more." 

t  "They  which  go  by  the  mounds  (of  Bele  and  Thorstenl  to  this  day  hear  oftentimes 
strange  murmurings  like  far-off  voices.  Some  say  it  is  nothing  but  the  wash  of  the  sea 
upon  the  beach,  or  the  winds  blowing  through  the  crisp  brown  grasses  on  the  cliffs; 
others  lift  a  fiigf  at>H  say:  "Listen!  King  Bele  and  his  faithful  thane  are  whispering  in 
their  sleep."—  T-.    ,  •     i-  Teutonic  Lands. 

110 


iFrttlmif  at  liis  iFatbrr's  Okaup, 

Shaw's  Translation.  "&■*?  &<T 


**,    gft^l^T-j  J  J  |  J  J  J-j^ 


yiaua. 


'! P  P  t/^l t-jf— 


How  fair  tlie  sun-light  smiles,  how  urate- (ul 
All-  fath-er  s  glance. in  dens  which  evening 


i 


fc* 


«» 


^ 


s 


rf-j.-^^^^P 


leap-     eth   From  bough     to      bough     each  beam  in  splendor  here! 
weep-  eth,      As       in        his     worldwide    sea,  gleatns  pure  and  clear !     In 


m 


W^ 


^ 


m*=z 


¥ 


2 


'   t* 


JBi  *}<i 


j-jr}U  ju  j  uj«;ig  tj  ^ 


crira-   sou  hues  the   mountain  tops     he       steep-eth  ;    Tis  blood  on  Bal-der's 

iHt,      ,  rl      !      1  111  ill  .,       Kf?         ■*'' 


hearth  that  doth  appear'  Soon  slumbers  all  the  land  on  Night's  dark  pillow,  Sooo 


"Welcome,  ye  stars,  that  your  far  way  have  wended, 
Now  glad  again  your  silent  march  I  see. 

Welcome,  ye  Northern  lights,  in  heaven  blended, 
That  once  a  burning  temple  seemed  to  me! 

Grow  green,  O  grave!  And  from  the  wave  ascended, 
Sound  once  again,  O  wondrous  melody! 

Here  on  my  shield  will  I  o'erwearied  slumber, 

And  dream  of  sins  atoned  that  gods  ne'er  number." 


16 


.^rrh 


312 


ilk 


(Eautii  ULUicnty-SUntrtt). 

The  majesty  and  solemn  stateliness  of  the  Iambic  Hexameter 
adapt  it  to  the  expression  of  lofty  thought,— and  especially  of  the 
almost  supra-mortal  beauty  and  sublimity  of  this  final  canto— the 
favorite  one  of  its  author. 

Planned  by  architects  from  the  South,  and  employing  a  thou- 
sand men  in  its  construction,  the  new  temple  of  Balder,  built  by 
Frithiof,  is  now  completed,  wonderful  in  art,  massiveness,  and 
architectural  beauty.  The  day  of  its  consecration  is  here.  Priests, 
harpers,  chorus  aud  the  multitude  throng  its  hall. 

Frithiof  feels  a  serene  gladness  and  spiritual  ecstasy  unfelt  for 
long,  as  the  twelve  temple-virgins  enter,  and  around  the  newly  con- 
secrated altar  dance  and  sing  a  strain  that  sets  him  at  peace  with 
all  the  world,  and  he  knows  that  he  is  at  last  reconciled  to  the 
offended  god. 

The  high-priest  describes  to  Frithiof  the  nature  of  true  atone- 
ment, and  interweaves  the  letter  of  the  mythology,  ethics  and  re- 
ligion of  the  North  with  the  spirit  of  Christianity  pervading  and 
illuming  all.  We  imbibe  the  inspiration  and  benediction  of  the  hal- 
lowed sceue. 

The  high-priest  tells  Frithiof  of  Helge's  death,  and  bids  him 
now  be  reconciled  with  Halfdan,  that  all  may  know  he  has  not,  in 
rebuilding  this  beautiful  temple,  mocked  the  god  of  peace. 

Halfdan  enters.  Frithiof  removes  both  sword  and  shield,  and 
unarmed  approaches  his  erstwhile  enemy;  and  long  unwonted 
hands  grasp  each  other  in  a  clasp  firm  as  the  mountain's  base. 

The  sweet  sound  of  music  is  heard.  Through  the  door  of  the 
aisle  enters  the  lovely  and  radiant  Iugeborg,  bridal-decked  and 
rose-wreathed,  and  seeks  her  brother's  side.  But  Halfdan  places  her 
upon  Frithiof's  breast;  and  the  two  long  separated  hearts  are  re- 
united before  the  altar  of  the  conciliated  god. 


(£( 


XXIV. 
©lie  SlUrmtriltattmt. 


COMPLETED  now  was  Balder's  temple.  Round  its  court 
Stood  not,  as  once,  a  fence  of  wood,  but  now  was  reared, 
Enclosing  Balder's  grove,  a  pale  of  hammered  steel, 
Whose  bars  bore  heads  of  gold;  like  steel-clad  warriors  armed 

315 


5       With  halberds  and  with  golden  helmets  rose  it  now, 
Guarding  the  new  built  sanctuary  of  the  god. 
Of  giant-stones  the  temple  wall  was  built  entire, 
Combined  in  bold  and  massive  style, — a  giant-work 
To  stand  eternally,  as  stands  Upsala's  shrine,* 

10      Placed  where  the  North  her  Valhall  saw  in  earthly  form. 
In  pride  it  held  the  mountain  cliff  precipitous, 
Its  high  brow  mirrored  in  the  ocean's  crystal  wave; 
And,  like  a  gorgeous  blossom-girdle  circling  round, 
Stretched  Balder's  vale  with  all  its  woodland  murmurings, 

15     With  all  its  bird-songs, — home  of  pure  tranquillity. 
High  rose  its  copper-moulded  portal;  and  within, 
Two  column-series,  posed  on  ponderous  shoulder-plates, 
Sustained  the  vaulted  canopy  that  hovered  fair 
Above  the  temple,  like  a  concave  shield  of  gold. 

20      Facing  the  portal  Balder's  altar  towered,  all  carved 
Of  single  block  of  Northern  marble,  twined  around 
By  massive  serpent,  and  inscribed  with  runic  signs, — + 
Deep-pondered  words  of  Vala*   and  of  Havamal.  ^ 
But  in  the  wall  above  was  built  a  spacious  niche, 

25      With  stars  of  gold  upon  a  dark-blue  ground;  and  there 
Was  set  a  silver  image  of  the  god,  as  calm 
As  sits  the  silver  moon  within  the  azure  heaven. 

*  "At  the  ancient  Upsala—  Yngre  Frey,— the  grandson  of  Oden,  founded  about  the 
year  220  a  temple,  which  was  widely  celebrated.  I  will  not,  like  some  historiographers, 
apply  here  all  that  Plato  has  written  respecting  the  capital  of  his  Atlantis;  yet  certain  it 
is,  that  the  fabric  was  very  magnificent,  according  to  the  notions  of  that  age;  of  stone, 
cruciform,  extending  sixty  ells  in  length  and  in  breadth,  with  a  ring  wall  or  fence  around 
it,  nine  hundred  ells  in  circumference.  This  temple  is  said  to  have  been  resplendent  with 
gold,  both  internally  and  externally,  and  especially  gorgeous  from  a  golden  chain  or  cor- 
nice, which  completely  circuited  it  under  the  extremity  of  its  roof.  At  the  door  of  the 
Fane,  according  to  the  same  authorities,  stood  a  tree  of  unknown  species,  and  retaining 
its  leaf  throughout  the  year.'*— Dalin,  i.  185. 

+  See  Scandinavian  rune-stone,  page  313,  and  King  Ring's  sledge,  page  260,  both  of 
which  contain  the  twisted  rune-inscribed  serpent,  which  was  the  form  given  to  a  large 
number  of  the  ancient  inscriptions, — the  anguiform  knot  symbolizing  indissoluble 
friendship  or  love. 

As  the  runes  read  from  the  head  to  the  tail  of  the  serpent,  the  decipherer  must  first 
locate  the  head  before  attempting  to  unravel  the  inscription. 

t  Sibyl:  here  applied  to  the  one  that  chants  the  Voluspa,  oldest  poetic  monument  of 
the  North,  the  first  song  of  the  Elder  F.dda. 

II  The  High  Song  of  Oden,  the  second  chant  of  the  Klder  Edda,  containing  the  code 
of  Odiuic  ethics  and  morality,  and  much  proverbial  wisdom  yet  quoted. 

316 


Thus  seemed  the  temple.  Now  by  twos  marched  lightly  in 
Twelve  temple-virgins  all  enrobed  in  silvery  gauze, 

30      With  roses  blooming  on  their  cheeks,  and  roses,  too. 
Within  their  sinless  hearts.     Before  the  imaged  god 
They  danced  around  the  altar  newly  consecrate, — 
As  spring-time  breezes  softly  play  o'er  fountain-streams. 
Or  forest  fairies  lightly  dance  on  verdant  swards, 

35      When  on  them  freshly  lies  the  morning's  glistening  dew. 
And  as  they  danced,  they  sang  a  soft  and  solemn  song 
Of  Balder,  of  the  holy  one,  how  he  was  loved 
Of  every  creature,  how  he  fell  by  fell  by  Hoder's  dart.* 


THE  DEATH  OF  BALDER. 


Ami  earth  and  sea  and  heaven  mourned.  The  song  seemed  not 


*  See  note,  Canto  XIII,  page  200. 

"When  Balder  fell,  the  Aesir  (.asas)  became,  as  it  were,  speechless  and  paralyzed 
When  they  attempted  to  speak,  tears  burst  forth;  and  most  of  all,  Oden  felt  the  extent  of 
his  misfortune.    Nanna,  dying  through  grief,  was  laid  upon  the  pile  beside  her  husband 

Thither,  likewise,  was  brought  his  horse  caparisoned;  there  Oden  deposited  his 
ring;  and  Thor  consecrated  the  pile  with  his  hammer.  Many  were  the  mournful  specta- 
tors, even  giants  attending  his  obsequies."— MUNTER. 

Si8 


THE  NEW  TEMPLE. 


40      Like  one  that  took  its  utterance  from  a  human  voice, 
But  like  a  chant  from  Breidablick,*  the  god's  own  hall, 
Or  like  a  lonely  maiden's  thought  of  him  she  loves, 
When  strikes  the  quail  his  deepest  tone  in  night's  repose. 
And  falls  the  moonlight  on  the  birches  of  the  North. 

45      Entranced  stood  Frithiof,  leaning  on  his  sword,  and  gazed 
Upon  the  dance,  while  memories  of  his  childhood  thronged 
Before  his  eye, — a  joyous  folk  and  free  from  guile. 
With  heaven-blue  eyes,  and  heads  haloed  with  locks  of  gold, 
They  waved  a  kindly  greeting  to  their  young  life's  friend. 

50      Then  like  a  bloody  shadow  sank  his  viking-life, 


With  all  its  battle-exploits,  its  adventures  wild, 
Down  into  night;  and  Frithiof  felt  himself  to  stand 
The  flower-wreathed  bautastone+  upon  their  ocean-graves. 
And  ever  with  the  swelling  song  his  soul  was  borne 
55      Afar  from  earth's  deep  vales  to  Valaskjalf  *  on  high. 
Soon  melted  human  vengeance,  every  human  hate, 
As  melts  the  sleeted  armor  from  the  mountain's  breast, 
"When  smiles  the  spring-time  sun.     A  sea  of  pence  serene, 
Of  silent  rapture,  then  swept  o'er  his  hero-soul; 

note.  +  Tombstone,  or  cenotaph. 

'\  A    stately   mansion  belonging   to   (  Men   ami   Vale,   liis  son,  built  by  the  gods  and 
roofed  with  pure  silver,  and  containing  the  throne  Hlidskjalf. 

320 


He  seemed  to  feel  the  heart  of  nature  tuneful  beat  60 

Against  his  own. — as  if  he  were  impelled  to  press 
The  universe  in  his  fraternal  arm.  and  peace 
Confirm  with  each  created  being  in  God's  sight. 

Within  the  temple  then  stepped  Balder's  most-high  priest. 

No1  young  nor  fair  as  was  the  god  himself,  but  great  65 

In  form,  with  heavenly  mildness  on  his  noble  face. 

While  to  his  girdle-stead  streamed  down  his  silver  beard. 

An  unaccustomed  awe  filled  Frithiof's  haughty  soul; 

The  eagle-wings  upon  his  helmet  lowly  drooped 

Before  the  aged  man.     But  words  of  peace  he  spoke:  70 

"Son  Frithiof.  welcome  here!  —I  have  awaited  thee! 

For  eagerly  the  strong  man  circles  earth  and  sea. 

Like  berserker,  who  pallid  bites  into  his  shield. 

But  wearied,  homeward  turns  his  thoughtful  steps  at  last. 

The  mighty  Thor  full  oft  repaired  to  Jotunheim,*  75 

But  yet.  despite  his  belt  divine  and  gloves  of  steel. 

Remains  Utgarda-Loke  seated  on  his  throne; 

For  evil  yieldeth  not  to  power,  itself  a  power: 

And  mere  child's  play  is  piety  with  power  unlinked; 

'Tis  like  a  ray  of  sunshine  cast  on  Agir's  breast, — +  80 

An  image  faint,  rising  and  sinking  with  the  wave. 

Devoid  of  faith,  foundationless,  without  support. 

But  power  unjoined  with  piety  consumes  itself, 

As  rusts  ;i  buried  sword.     It  is  life's  crapulence. 

*  To  apply  chastisement  to  the  giants  for  the  frigid,  bud-destroying  blasts  they  con- 
tinually sent  out,  or,  as  one  myth  runs,  to  be  avenged  upon  Utgarda-Loke.  the  giants'  kiirg. 
for  his  having  destroyed  a  temple  dedicated  to  Oden,  — thus  arousing  the  wrath  of  all 
Asgard,  Thor  harnessed  his  two  goats  and  drove  with  all  speed  to  Jotunheim.  on  his 
journey  he  met  Skrymer — Utgard-Loke in  di -guise— with  whom  he  fruitlessly  battled. 

Di  -pile  numerous  trials  of  physical  strength,  such  a-  failing  to  drain  a  horn  I  which 

was  the  ocean),  failing  to  lift  tin-  giant's  cat  (which  was  the  Midgard  snake  circling  the 

isu<  i     -  -lull  v  wrestling  with  Klli  (who  was  old  age  ).  — these  and  other  delusions 

\  rought  upon  him  by  the  giant's  king  through   magic,  Thor  had  to  return  to  Trud 

vaug,  his  castle,  without  having  exterminated  the  giants.      See  also  p.  73,  and  cut.  • 

I'tgard.  or  I'tgarda,  was  the  capital  of  Jotunheim.  Its  ruler  must  not  be  confused 
with  Asa-Loke,  though  each  personifies  evil,  the  latter  varnished,  the  former  unvarnished 

+  Agir  (the  sea),  like  his  brothers  Kari  (the  air)  and  Loki  (fire),  is  supposed  to  have 
belonged  to  an  older  dynasty  of  the  gods,  for  he  ranked  neither  with  the  Aesir.  the  Vanas, 
the  giants,  dwarfs,  nor  elves,  but  was  considered  omnipotent  within  his  realm." — Myths 
of  Northern  Lands. 

321 


85     Around  the  drinking  horn  oblivion's  heron  moves, 

But  conscious  waking  paints  the  drinker's  cheek  with  shame. 
All  strength  is  of  the  earth,  which  Ymer's*  body  is; 
Its  rushing  rivers  are  the  flowing  veins  thereof, 
And  out  of  myriad  metals  are  its  sinews  formed. 

90     Yet  stands  it  barren  as  a  desert,  void  of  fruit, 
Until  shines  down  the  sun,  the  piety  of  heaven. 
Then  wakes  the  grass,  and  flowerets  weave  their  purple  web, 
The  tree  uplifts  its  crown,  and  moulds  its  fruit  of  gold, 
And  beast  and  man  are  nursed  at  the  maternal  breast. 

95     And  thus  it  is  with  Asker's+  children.     In  the  scale 
Of  every  human  life  Allfather  lays  two  weights. 
Which,  when  in  equilibrium,  the  beam  hold  straight; — 
Their  names  are  earthly  Power,  and  heavenly  Piety. 

"Mighty  is  Thor,  O youth,  when  round  his  giant  waist 
100    He  firmly  girds  his  belt,  his  Megingjard,*  and  strikes. 
And  wise  is  Oden,  when  in  Urda's  silvery  fount 
He  gazes  down,  and  birds  swift-pinioned  bear  to  him, 
The  Asa-father,  tidings  from  the  earth's  far  bounds. 
Yet  both  grew  pallid,  and  the  luster  of  their  crowns 
105.   Was  half  extinguished,  when  the  pious  Balder  fell;1' 

*  The  father  of  the  giants,  from  whose  body  the  earth  was  formed,  from  whose  blood 
the  seas,  from  whose  bones  the  mountains,  from  whose  hair  the  trees,  from  whose  skull 
the  heavens,  from  whose  brain  the  clouds. 

He  was  formed  out  of  ice  and  fire  in  the  misty,  bottomless  abyss,  Ginunga-gap 

Ymer  was  the  product  of  the  frozen  mists  of  Nifelheim,  the  ice-world,  and  the  heated 
blasts  of  Muspelheim,  the  fire-world. 

Oden,  with  his  brothers  Vile  and  Ve,  slew  Ymer,  in  the  ocean  of  whose  blood  the 
entire  race  of  frost-giants  was  devoured,  except  one  who  with  his  family  escaped  in  a 
boat,  and  from  whom  a  new  race  descended. 

The  sky  was  called  "the  skull  of  Ymer." 

+  The  first  man,  the  Adarn  of  the  North,  — husband  of  Embla,  the  first  woman,  the 
Northern  Eve. 

Axk<_r  —  ash  ;   Embla=  elm,— this  first  pair  being  made  of  trees. 

i  »den  gave  them  life,  Hoener  gave  them  reason,  and  Loder  (Xoke)  gave  them  blood. 
From  these  descends  the  human  race. 

$  Which  doubled  his  strength  whenever  assumed. 

IT'Balder  represents  the  bright  and  clear  summer,  when  twilight  and  daybreak  kiss 
each  other  and  go  hand  in  hand  in  these  Northern  latitudes.  His  death  by  Hoder  is  the 
victory  of  darkness  over  light,  the  darkness  of  winter  over  the  light  of  summer.  .  .  He 
symbolizes  in  the  profoundest  sense,  the  heavenly  light  of  the  soul  and  of  the  mind,  purity, 
innocence,  piety.  Every  time  light  is  slain  by  darkness,  it  is  the  beautiful  and  good  that 
is  stricken  down;  but  it  is  never  stricken  except  to  return  and  shine  with  increased  splen- 
dor."—Norse  Mythology. 

322 


Because  he  was  the  band  of  Valhall's  wreath  of  gods. 
Then  withered  on  time's  tree  its  crown's  magnificence; 
The  dragon  Nidhogg  gnawed  its  root;  then  were  let  loose 
The  powers  of  ancient  night;  the  Midgard*  serpent  beat 
The  sky  with  poison-swollen  tail,  and  Fenris  +  howled,         110 


/K 


A 


FREY  SLAIN  BY  SURTUR. 

And  glistened  Surtur's  *  sword  of  fire  from  Muspelheim. 

*Called  also  Mi.lgardsorm  (the  serpent  of  Midgard)  and  Jdrmundgard.  Midgard  is 
the  earth,  and  is  completely  encircled  in  its  aqueous  home  by  this  serpent,  which  has 
been  called  the  oldest  physical  deity  of  the  sea,  and  regarded  as  personifying  the  tumultu- 
ous ocean.  When  Thorand  Tyr  visited  llymer  to  obtain  the  great  brew  kettle.  Thor  went 
fishing  withllymer,  fished  up  the  great  serpent,  and  would  have  slain  him  but  for  Hymer's 
cutting  the  line. 

Odin  had  cast  him  into  the  sea,  were  he  must  remain  until  Ragnarok.     Then  "writhes 
he  in  giant  rage,"  and  with  him  Thor  engages  in  final  furious  combat,  fatal  to  both. 

Cf.  Isaiah,  xxxvii,  1. 

+  "A  giant  wolf,  which— as  the  Edda  relates— was  kept  almost  from  birth  amongst 
thcdSsir.  until,  alarmed  by  its  monstrous  growth,  and  several  ominous  prophecies  of  its 
future  destructiveness,  they  resolved  to  secure  by  a  chain.  Secure  in  conscious  might, 
it  permitted  them  to  try  successively  various  fetters,  which  it  broke  with  ease;  but  at 
length  ingenious  Dwarfs  fabricated  a  cord  of  feix  materials,  which  thus  became  rarities  or 
nonentities:  the  sound  of  a  cat's  tread,  the  beard  of  a  female,  the  roots  of  a  mountain, 
the  nerves  <>f  a  bear,  the  saliva  of  a  bird,  and  the  breath  of  a  fish.  This  ligature  appeared 
so  slight,  that  tlie  creature  suspected  artifice;  and  would  not  suffer  it  to  be  wound  around 
its  limbs,  before  its  keeper.  Tyr.  had  placed  his  hand  in  its  mouth,  as  a  guaranty  that  no 
treachery  was  designed.  Their  enemy  was  thus  enchained,  but  Tyr's  arm  paid  the  for- 
feit;  and  at  the  appointed  day  of  the  mundane  catastrophe. Fenris  shall  burst  his  fetters, 
and  devour  Oden.     This  wolf,  according  to  Mallet,  is  a  symbol  of  Time."  — Strong. 

See  illustration,  page  194. 

*  At  Ragnarok,  Surtur.  flame-clad  ruler  of  Muspelheim,  rides  first,  followed  by  the 
sons  of  Muspel  in  bright  array,  and  his  sword  outshines  the  sun  itself,  Bifrost  is  broken 
in  pieces  when  their  mounted  warriors  ride  over  it.  Surturenvelops  t  he  <  :arth  in  names. 
Yggdrasil  ignites.  The  flames  rise  up  to  heaven.  Frey  and  Surtur  meet  in  deadly  com- 
bat. Terrific  strokes  are  exchanged.  But  Krey.  the  god  of  sunshine  and  prosperity,  had 
given  up  his  sword  to  Skirner,  that  the  beautiful  Gerda,  daughter  of  the  frost-giant 
Gymer,  might  be  won  (Canto  I,  page  34,  note),  and  though  the  unarmed  god  battled  val- 
iantly,  he   was  stricken  down  to  death  by  the  god  of  fire. 

323 


And  since  then,  wheresoe'er  thou  turn  thine  eye,  is  strife, 
With  war-shields  through  creation.      In  Valhalla  crows 
The  gold-combed  cock  ;  and  then  the  blood-red  cock  proclaims 

115    War  on  the  earth  and  under  it.*     Before  was  peace. 

Not  only  in  the  halls  of  gods,  but  on  the  earth; 

Calm  dwelt  in  human  hearts  as  in  the  breasts  of  gods; 

For  all  that  comes  to  pass  below,  has  taken  place 

Above,  in  vaster  measure:  for  humanity 
120    Ts  but  a  type  of  Valhall, — but  the  light  of  heaven 

Reflected  e'er  in  Saga's  rune-engraven  shield. 

Each  soul  enshrines  its  Balder.     Dost  recall  the  time 

When  in  thy  heart  peace  yet  reposed,  and  life  was  glad, 

And  full  of  heavenly  quiet  as  a  song-bird's  dream. 
1*25     When  summer  evening's  breeze  is  swaying  to  and  fro 

Each  drowsy  floweret  in  its  bed  of  waving  green? 

Ah,  then  was  Balder  dwelling  in  thy  guileless  self. 

O  Asa-son,  thou  wandering  ray  of  Valhall's  light! 

in  childhood's  heart  the  god  yet  lives,  and  Hela  yields 
130    Her  prey  once  more,  as  often  as  a  child  is  born. 

But  side  by  side  with  Balder,  in  each  human  soul, 

Grows  up  his  brother  Hoder,  blind, — the  son  of  Night. 

♦Heralding  the  "twilight  of  the  gods,"  as  it  is  also  named  in  the  Hindoo  mythology. 

"The  gold-combed  cock 
The  sods  in  Valhall  loudly  crows  to  arms; 
The  blood-red  cock  as  shrilly  answers  all 

On  earth  and  down  beneath  it."— Viking  Talis  of    i  n  i    North. 
After  the  three-fold  Fimbul  winter,  unbroken   by   intervening   summer— season   of 
brand,  battle-ax  and  fratricide— comes  the  final  catastrophe  here  described  in  the  graphic 
diction  of  the  Swedish  historian: 

"The  fiery  Cock  of  the  Trolds,  the  gold-bright  of  the  .Hsir,  the  rust-red  in  the  sub- 
terraneous halls  of  Hela.  crow  in  ominous  concert.  The  fettered  Wolf  howls,  every  chain 
is  broken,  the  Giants  gambol,  Loke  is  free.  Earth  quakes,  the  Dwarfs  sigh  at  the  doors 
of  then  rocky  caverns,  Vggdrasil  groans  and  trembles.  The  sea  boils  over  its  bounds,  for 
the  serpent  oi  Midgiard  advances  in  gigantic  frenzy,  and  heaves  himself  on  shore.  Then 
Heimdal  standing  forth,  blows  a  blast  upon  the  Giallar-horn,  which  resounds  through  all 
worlds,  and  summons  the  deities  to  war.  Oden  in  vain  communes  with  the  head  of  Mi- 
'iii  i .  The  eagle  screams,  and  rends  the  frequent  corpse;  the  billows  roar;  and  Nagelfar— 
the  ship  fabricated  from  nails  of  dead  men— is  launched,  and  rides  on,  steered  by  the 
giant  Hrymer.  But  Heaven  is  rent,  and  Muspel's  sons  move  in  squadron  through  the 
gulf,  headed  by  the  sable  Surtur,  the  All-kindling,  himself  mailed  in  flame,  and  brandish 
ing  a  sword  that  outshines  the  solar  beam.  Beneath  their  tread,  Bifrost,  the  tremulous 
bridge,  is  crushed.  Loke  repairs  with  the  sons  of  Ilela,  Urymer  with  the  giant  race,  to 
mingle  in  the  general  affray.  All  tin-  Kinlnriar  —  Valhall's  heroes  — march  in  mighty 
train.  Oden  leads  them  on,  the  sire  of  gods  and  men;  and  on  Virgid's  boundless  plain 
i  he  final  conflict.  The  Wo  II  engorges  Oden.  but  V  id  a  r,  the  silent  and  strong 
avenges  his  parent.  Heimdal  and  I.oke  sink  in  mutual  death.  Frey  falls  before  Surtur 
The  Midgard-serpent  is  slain  by  Thor.  but  the  poisoned  victor  scarcely  survives  his  foe 
Surtur  at  length  triumphs,  and  hurls  flame  over  the  universe/' 

324 


wSS8iP***i  * 


All  evil,  like  the  bear's  young,  is  born  blind;  its  cloak 
The  darkness  is,  but  all  the  good  is  clothed  in  light. 

135    Loke,*  the  zealous  tempter,  waits  and  watches  e'er 
To  guide  the  blind  assassin's  hand, — directs  the  dart 
Straight  to  Valhalla's  love,  the  youthful  Balder's  breast. 
Then  wakens  Hatred,  Violence  springs  on  her  prey, 
The  hungry  sword's  wolf  prowls  o'er  mount  and  vale  afar, 

140    And  dragons  swim  ferocious  o'er  the  bloody  waves. 
For.  like  a  feeble  shadow,  Piety  doth  sit. 
A  dead  one  midst  the  dead,  beside  the  pale-faced  Hel,+ 
And  in  its  ashes  Balder's  sacred  temple  lies. 
So  is  the  lofty  asas'  life  a  prototype 

145    Of  human  life  below;  for  both  are  but  the  thoughts 
Of  one  Allfather,  silent  and  unchangeable. 
What  was,  what  will  be,  Vala's  song  alone  doth  know 
That  song  is  both  Time's  cradle-song  and  elegy; 
Creation's  story  sounds  the  self-same  monotone, 

150    And  man  may  hear  therein  the  saga  of  his  life. 

Dost  thou  perceive  aright,  or  not?     'Tis  Vala  asks* 

*  Loke,  "the  prince  of  lies,"  had  wrought  the  climax  of  his  crimes  in  bringing"  about 
the  death  of  Balder,  and  the  gods  had  banished  him  from  Asgard  forever.  But  Agir,  to 
appease  their  sadness,  invites  them  to  a  feast  in  his  coral  caves.  In  the  midst  of  the  ban- 
quet Loke  again  appears,  and  vilifies  all  the  gods,  and  slays  Agir's  servant.  Heisdriven 
away,  returns,  renews  his  taunts,  and  flees  before  the  hammer  of  Thor.  The  gods  pur- 
sue him  and  capture  him  in  the  form  of  a  salmon,  which  fish  has  ever  since  possessed  a 
slim  tail  on  account  of  Thor's  grasp  upon  it. 

L oke  was  dragged  into  a  cavern,  bound  to  the  rocks,  a  venomous  serpent  placed 
above  him,  whose  poison  continually  dropped  on  his  upturned  face. 

But  Sigyn,  his  ever  faithful  wife,  sits  at  his  side,  catches  the  falling  drops  in  a  cup, 
never  leaving  him  except  to  empty  the  vessel;  at  these  intervals  the  falling  venom  causes 
him  to  writhe  in  agony,  and  his  efforts  to  free  himself  cause  the  phenomena  of  earth- 
quakes. 

Thus  he  remains  until  Ragnardk. 

Cf.  the  Southern  myth  of  Prometheus  who  stole  the  fire  from  the  sun's  chariot,  and 
was  chained  by  Jupiter  to  Mt.  Caucasus  for  30,000  years,  while  a  vulture  eternally  feeds 
on  his  eternally  renewed  liver. 

'As  queen  of  Nifelheim  she  received  the  souls  of  the  vile  and  cowardly,  those  who 
had  died  in  their  beds,  and  also  the  souls  of  women.  The  Northern  hell  was  cold,  the 
Southern  hot.  Oden  threw  Hela  down  to  the  lower  world  to  reign,  as  he  cast  Jormuugard 
into  the  ocean,  and  the  Fenris  wolf  to  the  earth,  all  three  the  offspring  of  Loke  and  Angur- 
boda.  A  blood-stained  dog,  Oarm,  constantly  watched  beside  Hel-gate,  appeasable  only 
by  the  offering  of  a  Hel-cake. 

Among  the  identities  between  Scandinavian   and    Roman   myths,  notice  might  be 

directed    to  Cerberus,  the    three-headed  dog  guarding  the  realm  of   Proserpina,  which 

Ml.  in  leading  Aeneas  down  through  the  passage  under  Mt.  Avernus  to  visit  his 

father  Anchises,  opiated  with  a  cake  of  honey  and  soporific  drugs,  ravenously  devoured 

and  instantly  effective. 

At  Ragnarok,  Hela's  dog  and  Tyr  give  each  other  mortal  wounds. 

$"Kuow  ye  now  more,  or  not?"  was  the  vala's  frequently  reiterated  question  in  the 
Voluspa. 

>26 


diiia» 


PUNISHMENT  OF  LORE. 


"Thou  wouldst  atonement  make.  Know'st  what  atonement  is  ? 
Then  gaze,  0  youth,  into  mine  eye,  nor  pallid  grow! 
An  expiator  walks  the  earth,  and  is  called  Death; 

155    All  time  is  but  the  offspring  of  eternity, 

All  earthly  life  a  spark  from  great  Allfather's  throne; 
Atonement  is  but  a  return  there  purified. 
The  holy  asas  fall  themselves;  and  Ragnarok 
Their  day  of  expiation  is, —a  bloody  day 

160    (  m  Vigrid's*  hundred  miles  of  plain;  there  will  they  fall 
But  yet  not  unavenged;  for  there  the  evil  find 
Eternal  death,  while  rise  again  the  fallen  good 
From  funeral  pyre  of  earth,  refined,  to  higher  life. 
Though  fall  the  starry-crown  indeed  from  heaven's  fane, 

165    All  pale  and  withered, — though  the  earth  sink  in  the  sea, — 
Yet  fairer  will  she  rise  new-born,  and  lift  in  joy 
Once  more  her  flower-crowned  head  from  out  the  turbid  waves. 
And  youthful  stars  with  light  divine  traverse  the  sky, 
Silently  wandering  round  the  new-created  world. + 

170    But  on  the  green-clad  hills  will  Balder  then  hold  sway 
O'er  new-born  asas  and  a  human  race  made  pure; 
And  runic  tablets  made  of  gold,  but  long  since  lost 
In  time's  gray  morning,  will  be  found  beneath  the  grass 

*  The  broad  field  of  the  last  battle  between  gods  and  the  powers  of  evil. 
"Vigrid  is  the  plain 
Where  battling  meet 
Surtur  and  gods  so  mild  ; 
Days'  journey  a  hundred  full 
It  stretches  every  way; 

'Tis  marked  their  field  of  fight    '  —  Vaithrudnkr's  Song. 

+  How  long  after  Ragnarok  the  night  of  Time  will  impend,  is  not  predicated.  Of  the 

gods,  Balder  and  Udder,  now  reconciled,    will  reappear  in  the  new  earth,  as  also  Vidar 

Vale,  Hoener,  and  Modi  and  Magni,  the  two  sons  of  Thor;  but  not  Odeu  nor  Thor,  whose 

developing  work  was  finished  long  ago. 

One  human  pair,  I,ifthrasir  and  Lif.  survive  the  destruction,  and  their  race  peo- 
ples  the  regenerated  and  peaceful  world.  During  the  great  disaster  the  pair  had  been 
concealed  in   Hodmimer's  forest,  and  their  food  had  been  the  dew  of  the  dawn. 

"We  shall  see  emerge 
From  the  bright  ocean  at  our  feet  an  earth 
More  fresh,  more  verdant  than  the  last,  with  fruits 
Self-springing,  and  a  seed  of  man  preserved. 
Who  then  shall  live  in  peace, as  now  in  war."  — Balder  DEAD(Arnold) 

"All  evil 
Dies  there  an  endless  death,  while  goodness  rises 
From  that  great  world-fire,  purified  at  last. 
To  a  life  far   higher,  better  than  the  past." 

—Viking  Tales  of  the  North 
328 


Of  Ida's  plain,*  by  sons  of  Valhall  reconciled. 

So  is  the  death  of  righteous  ones  their  test  by  fire; 

"Tis  but  atonement,  and  a  birth  to  better  life, 

Which,  clarified,  flics  back  to  that  from  which  it  came 

And  guileless  plays  as  child  upon  its  father's  knee. 


175 


'     - 

■ 

- 


THE  PLAIN  OF    IDA. 


Alas!  the  best  all  lies  beyond  the  mound  of  death. 
Beyond  the  green-clad  gate  of  Gimle ;+  base  is  all, 


180 


*  The  center  of  Asgard,  where  stood  the  gods'  hall,  Gladsheim,  and  the  goddess' 
-all,  Vingolf.  There  they  built  a  smithy,  with  anvils,  tongs,  hammers  and  other  instru- 
:nents  for  cutting  stone,  carving  wood  and  metals.  All  its  furniture  was  of  gold.  Here 
the  gods  pitched  their  golden  disks,  and  on  the  same  play-ground  used  the  invulnerable 
Haider  as  a  target,  where  he  was  finally  slain. 

Here  will  the  gods  who  are  destined  to  live  again,  re-assemble  after  Ragnarok. 
"We  shall  tread  once  more  the  well-known  plain 
of  Ida,  and  among  the  grass  shall  find 
The  golden  disk  with  which  we  played  of  yore; 
And  that  will  bring  to  mind  the  former  life 
And  pastime  of  the  gods,  the  wise  discourse 

Of  Oden,  the  delights  of  other  days."— Balder  Dead  (Arnold). 
tAs  Hel   exists  only  till  Ragnarok,  and  Nastrand  ever  after,  so  Valhalla  ends  at 
Ragnarok,  and  Gimle— the  eternal  home  of  the  heroic  and  the  good— supersedes  it.    This 
highest  heavenly  abode  lies  above  the  power  of  fire. 
"In  Gimle  the  lofty 
There  shall  the  hosts 
<  >f  the  virtuous  dwell, 
And  through  ages 
Taste  of  deep  gladness. "— Howitt. 

329 


190 


And  tarnished  everything  that  lives  beneath  the  stars. 
Yet  some  atonement  even  dwells   in  mortal  life; 
This  humbler  sphere  is  prelude  to  the  higher  one. 
It   is  like  light  arpeggio  on  the   minstrel's  harp, 
185  When  his  artistic  hand  awakes 

the  slumbering  tone, 
Attunes  each  string,  and  softly 

proves  with  careful  ear, 
Till  with  a  potent  touch  he 

sweeps  the  quivering  gold, 
Enticing  long-forgotten  mem- 
ories from  their  grave, 
Revealing  great  Valhalla's 

light  to  eyes  entranced. 
For  earth  is  but  the  shadow 

of  the  heaven  above, 
And  life  the"  outer  court  of 
Balder' s  fane  on  high. 
Tlic  multitude  makes  offering  to  the  gods:  the  steed 
Of  gold  and  purple  equipage  is  sacrificed.* 
This  is  a  symbol,  and  of  meaning  deep; — for  blood 
195    Is  the  red  morning-light  of  each  atonement  day; 
But  symbols  are  not  very  things,  and  not  atone; 
What  thou  hast  sinned  none  else  may  expiate  for  thee. 
The  dead  are  reconciled  upon   Allfather's  breast; 
The  living   expiation  feel  in  their  own  hearts. 
200    I  know   one    sacrifice   more   dear   to    all   the  gods 
Than  smoke  of  burning  victims;  and  this  offering 
Is  of  thy  heart's  unfettered  hate,  thine  own  revenge. 
If  thou  canst  deaden  not  their  edge,  if  thou  canst  not 

*In  Scandinavia  the  horse  was  used  for  food  and  for  sacrifice. 

"Horses  were  frequently  sacrificed,  in  the  old  North,  among  other  animals.  They 
were  especially  offered  toOden,  as  the  god  of  War;  and  to  Thor,  in  token  of  the  Horses 
which  drew  the  chariot  of  the  Sun.  Cyrus  the  Great  also  offered  Horses  to  that  luminary. 
At  the  great  atonement  sacrifice  at  Lederun,  the  capital  of  Sseland,  99  horses,  and  th-r 
same  number  of  men,  dogs,  cocks  and  hawks  were  offered  atonce."— Stevens. 

330 


THE  SKALD. 


THE  NORNS. 


Forgive,  O  youth,  what  wouldst  thou  then  in  Balder's  house? 
205    What  purport  bears  the  temple  thou  hast  builded  here? 
With  stones  is  Balder  not  appeased;  atonement  dwells 
Down  here,  as  there  above,  only  where  dwelleth  peace. 
First  with  thy  foe  be  reconciled,  and  with  thyself; — 
Then  art  thou  also  with  the  gold-haired  god  at  peace. 

210    They  speak  of  Balder  in  the  South, — the  virgin's  son, 
Sent  thither  by  Allfather  to  interpret  runes 
Upon  the  norns'  dark  shield,  all  unrevealed  before. 
Peace  was  his  battle-cry,  and  Love  his  glittering  sword, 
And  Purity  sat  dove-like  on  his  silver  helm. 

215    Devout  he  lived  and  taught;  he  died,  and  he  forgave; 
And  under  far-off  palms  his  grave  in  sunlight  lies. 
'Tis  said  his  doctrine  doth  extend  from  vale  to  vale, 
Melting  the  hardened  heart,  uniting  hand  to  hand, 
And  building  concord's  kingdom  on  the  ransomed  earth. 

220   I  do  not  know  the  teaching  well,  but  in  mine  hours 

Of  better  thought  have  vaguely  pictured  what  it  means; 
Each  human  heart,  like  mine,  has  imaged  it  betimes. 
A  time  will  come,  I  know,  when  it  will  lightly  spread 
Its  snow-white  dove-wings  o'er  the  mountains  of  the  North. 

225   But  not  for  us  will  be  a  North  when  that  day  comes; 
The  oaks  will  rustle  o'er  our  long  forgotten  graves. 
Ah,  happier  races,  ye  who  in  that  day  shall  drink 
The  sparkling  bowl  of  that  new  light,  I  bid  you  hail! 
Ah,  well  for  you,  if  it  can  clarify  each  sky 

■230   That  erewhile  spread  its  mist  across  the  sun  of  life. 


Jesus  Christ,  the  story  of  whose  birth,  divinity,  miracles  and  mercy  had  already 
reached  the  North— which  had  been  prepared  to  receive  him  by  the  almost  divine  con- 
ption  of  its  own  Haider.  — the  Scandinavian  Christ. 

It  is  in  accordance  with  this  lofty  ideal  of  divinity  that  the  pagan  high-priest  formu- 
lates  this  beautiful  tribute  to  Christianity. 

*  "As  the  Norsemen  who  settled  in  Iceland,  and  through  whom  the  most  complete 
exposition  of  the  Odinic  faith  has  come  down  to  us  in  the  Eddas  and  Sagas,  were  not  defi- 
nitely converted  until  the  eleventh  century,— although  they  had  come  in  contact  with 
Christians  during  their  viking  raids  nearly  six  centuries  before,— it  is  very  probable  that 
it  hern  skalds  gleaned  some  idea  of  the  Christian  doctrines,  and  that  this  knowledge 
influenced  them  to  a  certain  extent,  and  colored  their  descriptions  of  the  etui  of  the  world 
and  the  regeneration  of  the  earth."  — Myths  oi  Northern  Lands. 

332 


But  hold  us  not  in  scorn,  who  in  sincerity 

Have  sought  with  steadfast  eye  to  see  the  gleam  divine; 

Allfather  is  one  Grod,  though  ninny  Him  proclaim. 

•Thou  hatest  Bele's  sons.     But  wherefore  hatest  thou? 
235     Because  to  thee,  a  peasant's  son.  they  would  not  give 

Their  sister,  who  is  born  of  Sseming's*   noble  race — 

( i  reat  (  Kirn's  royal  son.     Extends  its  ancestry 

To  Valhall's  very  throne; — therein  lies  pride  of  birth. 

Bu1  birth  is  merely  fortune,  answerest  thou, — not  worth. 
240    All.  not  of  his  own  merit,  youth,  is  man  e'er  proud, 

But  of  his  fortune  only;  for  whate'er  is  best 

Is  but  the  gift  of  gods.     Art  thou  thyself  not  proud 

'  >)'  thy  heroic  exploits  and  thy  passing  strength.? 

Gravest  thyself  that  mighty  strength?     Did  Asa-Thor 
245    Not  weave  tin-  sinews  of  thine  arm  like  boughs  of  oak? 

And  is  it  not  the  soul  divine  that  beats  in  joy 

Within  the  castle  of  thy  high-arched  breast?     Is  not 

The  lightning  of  thy  flashing  eye  the  god's  own  glance? 

The  lofty  norns  beside  thy  very  cradle  sang 
250    Thy  kingly  life-song;  but  thy  worth,  on  this  account, 

Surpasseth  not  the  king's  son's  for  his  royal  birth. 

Judge  not  another's  pride,  lest  thine  itself  be  judged! 

Now  is  King  Helge  fallen!" 

Frithiof  here  exclaimed: 

"King  Eelge fallen?  When  and  where?'' 

"Thou  know'st  full  well 
■jr,.-)    That  while  thyself  this  temple  reared,  he  led  a  inarch 

Among  the  Finland  mountains.     On  a  lonely  cliff 

To  Juinala+  devoted,  stood  an  ancient  fane, 

♦One  of  l  In-  suns  uf  Oden,  who  became  the  head  of  a  family  of  Norwegian  kings, 
the  three  branches  of  which  maintained  long  sovereignty. 

+  The  Finnish  name  of  the  Supreme  Deity.  In  Permia  (Russia)  was  a  temple  to 
Jumala,  in  whose  ruins  was  found  a  crown  with  twelve  gems,  a  golden  necklace,  weigh- 
ing three  hundred  marks,  a  gold  bowl  of  enormous  capacity,  and  a  curtain  of  ines- 
timable value,  screening  the  image  of  the  god.     See  Dalin,  I,  184. 

334 


AUGUST    MAI  MSI  ROM 

With  tear-drops  glistening  in  her  beauteous  eyes,  she  fell 
Upon  her  brother's  neck;  but  Halfdan,  deeply  moved, 
Placed  his  dear  sister  then  on  Frithiof's  faithful  breast: 
And  at  the  altar  of  the  god  she  gave  her  hand 
To  him,  her  childhood's  faithful  friend,  her  heart's  best  love. 

I  Canto  XXIV.  1.  294.  p.  337. 


Abandoned  long  ago;  its  portal  now  was  barred; 

But  just  above  the  door  yet  stood  a  monster-like 

i  >ld  image  of  the  god,  inclining  to  its  fall. 

But  none  there  was  who  dare  approach,  for  it  was  said 

Among  the  Finns,  from  age  to  age,  that  he  indeed 

Who  first  approached  the  fane  should  -Juniala  behold. 

This  came  to  Helge's  ears:  and  in  blind  wrath  he  strode 

Up  the  deserted  steps  against  the  hated  god.  265 

And  would  destroy  the  temple.  When  the  door  he  reached 

He  found  it  fast,  and  in  its  lock  the  rusted  key. 

Straight  grasped  he  both  the  door-posts;  for  an  instant  then 

He  shook  the  mouldering  pillars,  when,  with  fearful  crash. 

Tumbled  the  weighty  image,  crushing  in  its  fall  27< 

The  son  of  Valhall!     Thus  he  Jumala  beheld! 

Last  night  a  messenger  to  us  the  tidings  bore. 

Alone  sits  Halfdan  now  upon  King  Bele's  throne; 

(rive  him  thy  hand,  and  leave  revenge  unto  the  gods! 

Balder,  and  I  his  priest,  this  sacrifice  demand.  275 

As  s\  mbol  that  thou  mockest  not  the  peaceful  god. 

Refuse  thou  this,  then  is  this  temple  built  in  vain. 

And  vain  are  all  my  words." 

Xow  entered  Halfdan  in, 
( )ver  the  copper  threshold,  and  with  doubting  glance, 
Standing  apart  from  him  he  feared,  he  spoke  no  word.      280 
Then  Frithiof  loosed  the  mail-coat-hater  from  his  loins. 
And  placed  his  golden  shield  against  the  altar's  side, 
And  (prickly  to  his  enemy  stepped  forth  unarmed. 
"In  this  sad  conflict,"  Frithiof  spoke  in  friendly  voice 
uHe  noblest  is,  who  first  his  hand  extends  for  peace."        285 
Then  blushed  King  Halfdan,  and  removed  his  glove  of  steeh 
And  hands  long  separated  now  were  joined  again* 

*  In  the  Saga  of  Thorsten,  after  Frithiof  has  married  Ingeborg  and  is  holding  - 
over  kingarike.  Helge  and  Halfdan  bring  war  to  him  ;  Helge  receives  his  death  wound  at 
tin   hand  of  Frithiof,  to  whom  Halfdan  at  once  viehls  up  his  realm,  and  pays  annual  tri! 
ute  until  Frithiof  takes  the  name  of  king  over  Sogne-fylke,  and  gives  to  the  sons  of  King 
Ring  the  sovereignty  over  Ringarike. 

335 


THE  MARRIAGE  OF  FRITHIOF  AND  INGEBORG. 


In  hearty  clasp  as  firm  as  is  the  mountain's  base. 

And  then  the  old  high-priest  revoked  the  curse  which  bourn  1 

The  temple- violator  and  the  outlawed  man.  290 

When  this  was  done,  then  quickly  entered  Ingeborg, 
In  bridal  robes  and  ermine-mantle,  with  her  maids. — 
As  when  the  moon  by  stars  is  followed  in  the  heaven. 
With  tear-drops  glistening  in  her  beauteous  eyes,  she  fell 
Upon  her  brother's  neck;  but  Halfdan,  deeply  moved,        295 
Placed  his  dear  sister  then  on  Frithiof  s  faithful  breast; 
And  at  the  altar  of  the  god  she  gave  her  hand 
To  him.  her  childhood's  faithful  friend,  her  heart's  best  love. 


337 


Explanatory  iCrttcr 
of 

Mi] 
icaaias  iTrmtrr. 

Dated  Ostrabo,  April  22,  1839. 

(translated.) 

At  the  time  when  Frithiof  was  composed,  it  was  commonly 
enough  believed  among  the  Literati  of  Sweden  —and  I  need 
only  to  mention  Leopold  as  an  example— that  what  was  called 
Grothip  Poetry  was,  notwithstanding  the  talent  it  was  admitted 
had  been  employed  on  it.  altogether  and  organically  unsuccess- 
ful. This  Poesy,  it  was  asserted,  rested  for  fundamental  sup- 
port on  a  wildness  of  manners  and  opinions  and  an  only  partial 
development  of  the  relations  of  society,  impossible  to  reconcile 
with  the  poetry  of  present  times.  The  latter  was.  properly 
enough,  regarded  as  the  Daughter  of  Modern  Civilization,  anil 
in  her  countenance  it  was  that  the  age  recognized,  though  beau- 
tified and  idealized,  the  features  of  itself.  And,  indeed,  it  is 
quite  true  that  all  Poetry  must  reflect  the  progress  and  temper- 
ament of  its  time:  but  still  we  find  those  general  human  pas- 
sions and  circumstances,  which  must  remain  unchanged  in 
every  period,  and  may  be  regarded  as  the  foundation  of  poetry. 
Even  before  this,  though  with  various  success.  Ling  had  treated 
several  Northern  subjects.—  for  the  most  part  in  a  dramatic 
form.  It  has  been  observed  that  his  great  poetic  talent  lay 
more  in  the  lyric  than  the  drama,  and  that  he  paints  exterior 

339 


Nature  far  better  than  the  ever-changing  soul.  That  the 
Northern  Saga  can  successfully  assume  the  dram  a  tic  form  is, 
however,  abundantly  proved  by  the  Tragedies  of  GEhlenschlager. 

It  is  with  pleasure  I  acknowledge  that  his  '-Helge"  tirstgave  me 
the  idea  of  Frith iof. 

It  was  never  my  meaning,  however,  in  this  poem, — though 
such  seems  to  have  been  the  opinion  of  many — simply  to  versify 
the  Saga-  The  most  transient  comparison  ought  to  have  shown 
not  only  that  the  whole  denouement  is  different  in  the  Poem 
and  the  Saga,  but  also  that  several  of  its  parts,  such  as  Cantos 
IT.  Ill,  V,  XV,  XXI,  XXIII  and  XXIV,  have  either  little,  if 
any.  or  at  least  a  very  distant  ground  in  the  legend.  Indeed  it 
is  not  in  this  one,  but  in  other  Icelandic  Sagas  that  we  ought 
to  seek  the  sources  of  the  incidents  I  have  chosen.  My  ob- 
jecl  was,  to  represent  a  poetical  image  of  the  old  Northern 
Hero-Age.  It  was  not  Frithiof,  as  an  individual,  whom  I  would 
paint;  it  was  the  epoch  of  which  he  was  chosen  as  the  represen- 
tative. It  is  true  that  I  preserved,  in  this  respect,  the  hull  and 
outline  of  the  tradition. — but,  at  the  same  time,  I  thought  my- 
self entitled  to  add  or  to  take  away,  just  as  was  most  convenient 
for  my  plan.  This,  as  I  supposed,  was  a  part  of  that  poetic 
liberty,  without  which  it  is  impossible  to  produce  any  independ- 
ent treatment  of  any  poetical  subject  whatsoever. 

In  the  Saga  we  find  much  that  is  high-minded  and  heroic. 
and  which,  equally  demanding  the  homage  of  every  period,  both 
eon  Id  and  should  be  preserved.  But,  at  the  same  time,  we 
meet  occasional  instances  of  the  raw,  the  savage,  the  barbarous. 
which  required  to  be  either  altogether  taken  away,  or  to  be  con- 
siderably softened  down.  To  a  certain  extent,  therefore,  it  was 
necessary  to  modernize:  but  just  the  difficulty  here  was  to  find 
the  fitting  lagom.  On  the  one  hand,  the  poem  ought  not  too 
glaringly  to  offend  our  milder  opinions  and  more  refined  habits: 
but  on  the  other,  it  was  important  not  to  sacrifice  the  national. 
the  lively,  tin1  vigorous  and  the  natural.  There  could,  and  should. 
blow  through  the  song  that  cold  winter-air.  that  fresh  North- 
wind,  which  characterizes  so  much  both  the  climate  and  the 
temperament  of  the  North.  But  neither  should  the  storm  howl 
till  the  very  quicksilver  froze,  and  all  the  more  tender  emotions 
of  the  heart  were  extinguished. 

It  is  properly  in  the  bearing  of  Frithiof's  character  that  I 
have  sought  the  resolution  of  this  problem.  The  noble,  the 
high-minded,  the  bold,  which  is  the  great  feature  of  all  heroism, 
ought  not,  of  course,  to  be  missing  there:  and  materials  suffi- 
cient abounded  both  in  this  and  many  other  Sagas.  But  to- 
gether with   this   more  general  heroism,  I  have  endeavored  to 

34" 


invest  the  character  of  Frithiof  with  something  individually 
Northern — that  fresh-living,  insolent,  daring  rashness  which 
belongs,  or  at  least  formerly  belonged,  to  the  national  tempera- 
ment.    Ingeborg  says  of  Frithiof: 

"How  glad,  how  daring,  how  inspired  with  hope! 

Against  the  breast  of  norrj  he  sets  the  point 

Of  his  good  sword,  commanding:  "Thou  shalt  yield  !"  * 

These  lines  contain  the  key  to  Frithiof's  character,  and,  in  point 
of  fact,  to  the  whole  poem.  Even  the  mild,  peace-loving,  friend- 
rich  old  King  Ring  is  not  destitute  of  this  great  national  qual- 
ity, at  least  in  the  manner  of  his  death;  and  it  is  for  this  reason 
that  I  let  him  "Carve  himself  with  geirs-odd," — undoubtedly  a 
barbarous  custom,  but  still  characteristic  of  the  time  and  the 
popular  manners. 

Another  peculiarity  common  to  the  people  of  the  North,  is 
a  certain  disposition  for  melancholy  and  heaviness  of  spirit 
common  to  all  deeper  characters.  Like  some  elegiac  key-note, 
its  sound  pervades  all  our  old  national  melodies,  and  generally 
whatever  is  expressive  in  our  annals. — for  it  is  found  in  the 
depths  of  the  nation's  heart.  I  have  somewhere  or  other  said 
of  Bellman,  the  most  national  of  our  poets: 

"And  mark  the  touch  of  gloom  his  brow  o'ershading— 
A  Northern  minstrel  look,  a  grief  in  rosy-red!  "  + 

This  melancholy,  so  far  from  opposing  the  fresh  liveliness 
and  cheerful  vigor  common  to  the  nation,  only  gives  them  yet 
more  strength  and  elasticity.  There  is  a  certain  kind  of  life- 
enjoying  gladness  (and  of  this  public  opinion  has  accused  the 
French.)  which  finally  reposes  on  frivolity:  that  of  the  North 
is  built  on  seriousness.  And  therefore  I  have  also  endeavored 
to  develop  in  Frithiof  somewhat  of  this  meditative  gloom.  His 
repentant  regret  at  the  unwilling  Temple-fire, — his  scrupulous 
fear  of  Balder,  who 

"—  sits  in  the  sky,  cloudy  thoughts  sending  down. 
ever  veiling  my  spirit  in  gloom,'  % 

and  his  longing  for  the  final  reconciliation  and  for  calm  within 
him,  are  proofs  not  only  of  a  religious  craving,  but  also  and 
still  more  of  a  natural  tendency  to  sorrowfulness  common  to 
every  serious  mind,  at  least  in  the  North  of  Europe. 

I  have  been  reproached  (though.  I  cannot  help  thinking, 
without  good  reason)  with  having  given  the  love  between  Frith- 
iof and  Ingeborg, — for  instance  in  "The  Parting" — too  modern 

*  "Hur  glad,  hur  trotsig.  hur  forhoppningsfull ! 

Han  satter  spetsen  af  sitt  goda  sviird 

Pa  nornans  hrost.  och  sager:  'Dii  skall  vika!'  " 

— Frithiof's  Saga,  Canto  vm. 
+  "Och  mark  det  vemodsdraget  ofver  pannan, 

ett  Xordiskt  Sangardrag,  en  sorg  i  rosenrodt!" 
X—  "sitter  i  skyn,  skickar  tankarna  ned, 
som  formorka  mitt  sinne  alltjemt." 

—Canto  xv. 

341 


and  sentimental  a  cast.  As  regards  this.  I  ought  to  remark  that 
reverence  for  the  sex  was  from  the  earliest  times,  long  before 
tlie  introduction  of  Christianity,  a  national  feature  of  the  Ger- 
man peoples.  On  this  account  it  was  that  the  light,  inconstant 
and  simply  sensual  view  of  love, — which  prevailed  among  the 
most  cultivated  nations  of  antiquity,- — was  a  thing  quite  foreign 
to  the  habits  of  the  North.  Song  and  Saga  overflow  with  the 
most  touching  legends  of  romantic  love  and  faith  in  the  North, 
long  before  the  spirit  of  chivalry  had  made  woman  the  idol  of 
man  in  the  South.  The  circumstances  assumed  between  Inge- 
borg  and  Frithiof  seem  to  me,  therefore,  to  rest  upon  sufficient 
historical  ground. — if  not  personally, — in  the  manners  and 
opinions  of  the  age.  That  delicacy  of  sentiment  with  which 
Ingeborg  refused  to  accompany  her  lover,  and  rather  sacrificed 
her  inclination  than  withdrew  herself  from  the  authority  of  her 
brother  and  guardian — seems  to  me  to  find  its  reason  in  the  na- 
ture of  each  nobler  female,  which  is  the  same  in  every  period 
and  in  every  land. 

The  subjective  thus  contained  in  the  events  and  characters, 
demanded,  or  at  least  permitted,  a  departure  from  the  usual 
epic  uniformity  in  their  treatment.  The  most  suitable  method 
seemed  to  me,  to  resolve  the  epic  form  into  free  lyric  romances. 
I  had  the  example  of  CEhlenschlager,  in  his  Helge,  before  me; 
and  have  since  found  that  it  had  been  followed  by  others.  It 
carries  with  it  the  advantage  of  enabling  one  to  change  the  me- 
ter in  accordance  with  the  contents  of  every  separate  song. 
Thus,  for  instance,  I  doubt  whether  "Ingeborg's  Lament" 
(Canto  IX)  could  be  given  with  advantage  in  any  language  in 
hexameters  of  ten-syllabled  iambics,  whether  rhymed  or  not.  I 
am  well  aware  that  many  regard  this  as  opposed  to  the  epic 
unity,  which  is,  however,  so  nearly  allied  to  monotony.  But  I 
regard  this  unity  as  more  than  sufficiently  compensated  by  the 
freer  room  and  fresher  changes  gained  by  its  abandonment, 
Just  this  liberty,  however,  to  be  properly  employed,  requires  so 
much  the  more  thought,  understanding  and  taste;  for  with  every 
separate  piece  one  must  endeavor  to  find  the  exactly  suitable 
form,  a  thing  not  always  ready  for  one's  hand  in  the  language. 
It  is  for  this  reason  that  I  have  attempted  (with  greater  or  less 
success)  to  imitate  several  meters,  especially  from  the  poets  of 
antiquity.  Thus  the  pentameter  iambic,  hypercatalectic  in  the 
third  foot,  (Canto  1 1);  the  six-footed  iambic(C.  XIV  );  the  Aristo- 
phanic  Ansepests  (C.  XV);  the  trochaic  tetrameter  (C.  XVI); 
and  the  tragic  senarius  (C.  XXIV), — were  little,  if  at  all,  heard 
of  in  Swedish  previous  to  my  attempts. 

As  regards  the  language  in  itself, — the  antique  subject  in- 

342 


vited  one  sometimes  to  use  an  archaism,  especially  where  such 
an  expression,  without  being  obscure,  seemed  to  carry  with 
it  any  [.articular  emphasis.  Still  this  care  is  at  all  events  lost 
abroad,  and  sometimes  even  at  home.  It  demands,  nevertheless, 
very  much  prudence — for  the  great  stream  of  words  in  a 
modern  poem  must,  naturally,  flow  from  the  language  of  the  day, 
although  an  obsolescent  word  or  two  may  occasionally  lie  em- 
ployed. 

E.  S.  Tegner, 


343 


5£r7c&/ru/£S'. 


? 


Ktifcx  uf  %  Wnat-Kates. 


In  the  pronunciation  of  Swedish  words,  including  proper  names,  there  are  three 
vowels  requiring  special  attention,  as  follows:  A  is  pronounced  nearly  like  e,  as  in  "met, 
inclining  to  long  a;  alike  o  long;  and  6  like  e  in  "her,"  precisely  similar  to  the  Ge 
6.     I  is  like  e  long.     Y  is  like  the  French  u,  or  German  ii— a  very  much  broadened  long  e. 
An  is  like  ou.    J  is  sounded  as  y,  th  as  t,  q  as  k,  h  is  mute  before  j  and  v,  1  is  mute  before 
j,  and  g=y  before  ii,  e,  i,  and  y.     V  and  w  have  the  same  sound. 


Aggerhuus 

222 

Cairns 

Agir 

75,  321 

Cerberus 

Daughters 

186 

Champions 

Agir's  Fire 

227 

Chase 

Alf 

251 

Chess 

Alfheim 

66 

Christ 

Alfhild 

280 

Christianity 

Alger 

251 

Allfather 

124 

Anacreon 

245 

Andhriinuir 

32 

Dagr 

Angantyr 

306 

Delling 

Angurboda 

190 

Aphrodite 

134 

Disarsal 

Arm-ring 

Asas 

Asgard 

68 
64 

64 

Dragon 

Drapa 

Duel 

A  ■-ktr 

322 

Duodecimals 

Aslaug 

300 

Dwarfs 

B 

Balder 

00.  322 

Edda 

F'inheriar 

Eldhrimuir 

Ella 

Elli 

Ellida 

Balder's  Death 
Haider's  Pyre 
Balder's  Strand 

200,  318 
200 
107 

Balder's  Statue 

206 

Balholm 

Barrow 

71.  285 

Elves 

Embla 

Eriksgata 

Bautastone 

50.  320 

Bayeux  Tapestry 
Bele 

36 
38,  43 

Bt-rserk 

170,  172,  273,  288 

Bertha 

288 

. 

Bid-stick 

297 

Fafner 

Bifrost 

124.  285 

Falcon 

Birch 

82,  304 

Falcon-hunt 

Birds 

270 

Fenris 

Bjorn 

77 

Fimbul  Winter 

Blatand 

63 

Fingal 

Blood-eagle 

241.  300 

Finnbogi 

Boar 

247 

Folia 

Brage 

60,  294 

Folkvang 

Breidablick 

310 

Forsete 

Brisingamen 

150 

Foster-broth  ership 

Burial 

285 

Framnas 

Brynhilda 

153,  300 

Frea 

- 

32( 

332 
332 


19 

7? 
79,  285 

63,  32 


51 

112 

300 
321 
73,  163 
109 
322 
18S 


292 
47 
264 
192,  323 
324 

77 

64,  58 

288 


347 


Freki 

Prey 

Freya 

Prey's  Sword 

Fricca 

Frigga 

Frithiof 


Gandvik 

Garm 

Garmer 

Geirs-odd 

Gerda 

'  '.eri 

(".imle 

Ginnunga-gap 

Gjallarborn 

1  rladsheim 

Glitner 

Ooblins 

Greece 

(  '.udbrand 

Gungnar 

Gymer 


Habrok 

Hagbart 

Halfdau 

Ham 

Harek 

Harfagra 

Havamal 

Heimdal 

Heimir 

Hejd 

Hel 

Hela 

Helgate 

Helge 

Herraod 

Herraud 

Hervor 

Hilder 

Hilding 

Hill-age 

Himinbjorg 

Hjalmar 

Hlidskjalf 

Hoder 

Hodmimer 

Hoener 

Hofud 

Holda 

Huimgang 

Ilur-e^ 

Hreidmar 

Hrimfax 

Hugin 

Hunvor 

Hvergelmir 

Hymer 

Hymir 


Ida 

Ida's  plain 

Iduna 

Ingeborg 

Isis 

I^]<  -duel 

Ivau 


H 


207 

55,  323 

25,  109 

228 

288 

34,288 

44 


60 

3J6 

.'57 

280 

34,  323 

38 
329 
322 
283 
329 

156 
233 

222 

38 

323 


257 

251 

44 

156 

64 

251 

51,  316 

283,  294 

300 

156 

34,  329 

34.  200 

326 

44,  219 

200 

219 

306 

64 

25 

285 

283 

306 

320 

200 

328 

322 

283 

288 

202,  23S 

320 

292 

277 

38,  49 

64 

273 

323 

75 


329 
329 
32 
43 
288 
238 
300 


Jarl 

Jealousy  of  gods 

Jokul 

Jotunheim 

Jul 

Jumala 


Kari 


Laplander's  Song 

I.if 

Lifthrasir 

Light-elves 

Lightener 

Loder 

Lofan 

Loke 


Mark 

Mead-halls 

Megingjard 

Midgard  serpent 

Midnight  Sun 

Midsummer  Feast 

Mile 

Mimer 

Munin 

Muspel 

Muspelheim 


M 


N 


Nanna 

Nastraud 

Xibelungeu  treasure 

Nidhogg 

Niding-post 

Nifelheim 

Njord 

Norns 

Nott 


348 


Oden 

Oden's  Death 
Oder 
Oddr 
Orkneys 


Pile  Age 

Pine-marten 

Piracy 

Pirates 

Pole-star 

Prometheus 


Ragnar  I.odbrok 

Ragnarok 

Reindeer 

Ring 

Ringarike 

Rota 

Runes 

Rune-staff 

Rune-stones 

Runic  Alphabet 


129,  200 
109 
64 
75,  321 
236 
334 


256 
328 
328 
25 
332 
' 

190, 200, 32o 


65 
46,  175 


99 
197 
58 

60,91,  290 

38,  49 

209 


34 

131,  329 

2"  2 

305,  323 

223 

322,  323 

25 

53,  122 

106.  277 


38,  60 

89 

150 

306 

129 


285 

161 

227,  232 
227 
1  J8 
326 


227,  280,  283,  300 

118,  208,  283,  326,  328 

256 

91.  92,  280 

335 

264 

28,  155 

76,  195 

28,  316 

28 


Saehrirunir 

32 

Steiuiiig 

334 

Ssemund 

51 

Saga 

60 

66,  107 

Salt-burner 

244 

Sea  hoi  se 

::s 

Sea-kings 

229 

Serpent 

316 

Shields 

298 

Siegfried 

300 

Sigar 

251 

Siggeir 

219 

Signe 

251 

Sigurd 

155 

Sigyu 

326 

Skade 

25 

Skalds 

34,  81 

.  85,  151 

Skinfax 

106,  277 

Skirner 

323 

Skidbladnir 

257 

Skoal 

249 

Skrymer 

321 

Skulda 

53 

Sleipuer 

257 

Sogne  Fjord 

57 

Solundar 

157 

Song-god 

95 

Sdqvabak 

66, 

107,  290 

Sorcery 

155,  171 

Straw-death 

280 

Surttir 

2i  9 

Svvau  Song 

300 

T 

Temple  of  Upsala 

316 

Thock 

200 

Thor 

40,  75, 

127,  286 

Thor's  hammer 

Thorsten 

38,  43 

Tliorsten's  grave 

Thunderer 

Thjasse 

32 

Ting 

121, 

298,  299 

Tirfing 

306 

Trudvatig 
Twelve  Immi  irtals 
Tyr 

t'lleraker 

Ulphus 

Upsala 

Upsala  temple 

t'rda 

Urda's  Fountain 

I'l  us 

Utgarda-L<>ke 


Vala 

\'al  fader 

Valaskjalf 

Valhalla 

Valkyries 

Vanes 

Vangsnas 

Vanadis 

Var 

Vaulund 

Ve 

Vegtam 

Verdandi 

Vidar 

Vifell 

Vigrid 

Viking 

\'ikir.gs 

Viking-ship  of  Gokstad 

Vile 

Viugolf 

Virgil 

Vol  u  spa 

Vulcan 

w 

Wood-ox 


Yggdrasil 
Ymer 


40 
66 
75 

63 
249 

316 
79 
53 
292 
249 
321 


96,  316 
290 
320 
32.  79.  329 
110 
290 
58 

192 

65,  143 

312 

129 

53 
194 

63 
328 

63 
227 

71 

3  I ! 

113,  329 

290 

96, 316 

65 

249 


53, 131 

63.  322 


349 


Hrnlth 


THE  NINE  WORLDS. 


if ttdrx  flf  31  Uustnitimts. 


ANCIENT  N'ORWAI 

VIEW   ON   SOGNE   FJORD 

THE   TWO    PLANTS  OPP. 

ORIGINAL   TITLE   PAGE 

TRANSLATOR'S    TITLE    PAGE 

DEDICATIONAL 

FIGURE    OF    ICELAND 

VALA 

ORCHESTRA    OF    NATURE 

A    NORWEGIAN    COAST 

THE    NORTHERN    BARD 

THE    ASH    VGGDRASIL 

FOREWORD    HEAD-PIECE 

FRITHIOF'S    SAGA 

THE    PRINCESS    FAIR 

FRITHIOF   AND    INGEBORG 

THE   LIGHT-ELVES 

RUNESTONES   AT   BJORKETORP 

FRAMNAS,    THORSTEN'S    ESTATE 

FRITHIOF'S   FIRST   BEAR 

IDUNA 

FRIGGA 

INGEBORG    EMBROIDERS 

FITHIOF  SLAYS  THE  FOREST  KING 

GUDVANGEN 

THOR 

IT    CROWS    TOWARD    EVENING 

KING    BELE   AND  THORSTEN 

LAERDAL  FJORD 

ANCIENT   MEAD-HALL 

ODEN    ON    HIS    THRONE 


0 

FRITHIOF'S   BAUTASTONE 

50 

II 

NORNS    AT    URD'S    FOUNTAIN 

53 

p.  1 

FREY   AND  HIS  STEED 

54 

1 

WHEN    MOONLIGHT    STREAMS 

53 

III 

THE    MOUNTAIN    BIRCHES 

VI 

FRITHIOF'S    INHERITANCE 

57 

VIII 

MOUNTAIN    .MIRRORS 

58 

IN 

FRITHIOF'S  HALL 

61 

Nil 

ANGURVADEL 

03 

XIV 

THE    DWARFS 

04 

XV 

VAULUND 

G5 

XVI 

ODEN    WITH    SAGA 

07 

XVII 

FRITHIOF'S   ARM-RING 

09 

XXIII 

GOKSTAD   VIKING   SHIP 

71 

24 

EEEIDA 

73 

25 

THE  JOTUNHEIM 

7i ; 

27 

BRAGE    AND    HEIMDAL 

7S 

2!) 

THE   DRAI'A 

79 

30 

REXES   IN   BIRCHBARK 

80 

31 

FRITHIOF'S    COURTSHIP 

81 

33 

FRITHIOF   AND    INGEBORG 

S3 

35 

MODERN   BALHOLM 

84 

37 

THE   DOVE 

85 

G      :  i 

FRITHIOF   CLEAVES   HELGE'S 

40 

SHIELD 

88 

41 

WELL   WROUGHT,    MY    SWORD 

89 

42 

RING'S  DOMINIONS 

90 

13 

KING    RING 

91 

4.", 

SUM'S   OF   TREASURE 

02 

4G 

QUEEN    ALFHILD'S   CRAVE 

94 

4S 

• 

BALDER'S  TEMPLE 

5* 

97 

BJORN    AM)    FRITHIOF 

FRITHIOF    PLAYS    CHESS 

A   CHESS  BOARD   HARE 

NAERDAL   FJORD 

IN   SAM)   I    WRITE 

IRITIIIoF's  HAPPINESS 

DAY 

FREYA 

SHE   COMES 

THE   VALKVRIES 

THE    EINHERIAR 

LOVERS  AT  BALDER'S  SHRINE 

MORNING   WINDS  SPEAK 

DAY   DAWNS  ONCE  MORE 

THE    FAREWELL 

THE  TEMPLE'S   PORTAL 

FRITHIOF   AT  THE   TING 

A    THOUSAND    SWORDS 

ODEX    AND    THE    \  ALA 

THE    DRACHENFELS 

NASTRAND 

SIGURD    FAFNERSBANE 

A   GRECIAN   TEMPLE 

IE  O'ER  THE  SEA 

[NGEBORG'S   HARP 

NAEROFJORDEN,    SOGNE, 

WILD    HEAVES  THE   OCEAN 

INGEBORG'S   LAMENT 

LONG   DID    I    GAZE 

FRITHIOF'S   SAIL 

EREYA   AND   THE    DWARFS 

THE  SILENT   HARP 

INGEBORG   P.Y  Tin:  SEA 

THE    HALF  DROWNED    SHIP 

FRITHIOF   ON    THE    OCEAN 

BALDER'S   STRAND 

AGIR   AND   RAN  A 

DRAGON  SHIP 

EF.IE   SOUND 

MEAD  HORN    AM)  TRUMPET 

THE   ORKNEYS 

01  O   1IALVAR 

FRITHIOF    WITH    ANGANTYR 

ATLE 

THE    TWO    CHAMPIONS 

FRITHIOF    IN   COMBAT 

THi:    HALL   OF   ANGANTYR 


9S 

!)'.) 
1(112 

103 

104 
1 1 1.", 
106 
108 

110 

111 
n. •: 
117 
11!) 
120 
121 

12:: 

12.-, 
127 
120 
130 
131 
133 
137 
141 
142 
14.") 
140 
147 
14.N 
140 
150 
152 
1.-,:: 
154 
153 
158 
1G0 
162 
1G5 
100 
107 
16S 
100 
171 

17:: 
175 

17S 


MY   DAY   IS    NOW 

THE    WASTED    HALL 

I  RITHIOF'S   RETURN 

BALDER'S   HOLM 

THREE  FAITHFUL  FRIENDS 

LORE 

P.RAGE 

V1DAR   SLAYS   FENRIS 

PALDER.   THE   GOOD 

THE    PLUNDERED   NEST 

NOT  DAY    NOR    NIGHT 

BALDER'S   PYRE 

PALDER   -HODER    &    LOKE 

B.T0RN   AT  THE   DOOR 

THE  MIDNIGHT  SUN 

FIERCE   HE   PULLED 

THE    BURNING    TEMPLE 

SURTUR 

FRITHIOF    WEEPS 

FAREWELL,    o    FOREST 

FRITHIOF  EXILED 

MOUNDS   OF    P.ELE   AND  THORSTE 

HELGE'S  FLEET 

NIDING-POST 

GUDBRAND'S  DALE 

SAC  A 

VIKING    SHIPS 

'I'lll-:   VIKING    CODE 

FREYA 

A    MEETING 

GREECE 

NAERDAL   VALLEY 

THE    DEAD    WATERS 

FRITHIOF   AND    BJORN 

EI  LIDA    ICE-BOUND 

LONE  GO   I   NOT 

DISABLED    ANT)    FROZEN 

FRITHIOF   COMES  TO   KING   RING 

KINO   RING'S  COURT 

THE    YULE    FEAST 

HAGBART   AND  SIGNE 

DRINKING   HORN 

RAN'S   SILVER   ROOF 

THE    ICE-RIDE 

SLEIPNER 

THE   STEEL-SHOD   STRANGER 

El.Tl  RN    OF   SPRING 


1S2 
1S4 
IS3 
1S7 
1.".) 
101 
1C3 
104 
19C 
107 
198 
199 
2ol 
202 
203 
205 
207 
20S 
209 
212 
213 
217 
218 
221 


Z2< 

228 
229 
233 


230 
241 
212 
24J 
243 
248 
250 
251 
254 
255 


352 


KING   RING'S  SLEDGE 

200 

A  SOLITARY   DALE 

262 

FRITIIIOF'S    TEMPTATION 

203 

A    FALCON    HUNT 

204 

THE   HUNTING    PARTY 

203 

SOGNE    FJAI.LEN 

2  17 

THE     ASAS 

269 

THE  TEMPTATION 

271 

A  CLOVEN   SHIELD 

273 

LIGHTNING'S  BROTHER 

275 

NORNS   ARE    CONTROLLING 

270 

KING    RING'S    DEATH 

277 

DRAGON  SHIP 

278 

THE    NORNS 

27!  i 

DEATH   RUNES  SO  DEEP 

2S1 

IIEIMDAL 

282 

A   FEAST  IN   VALHALLA 

2S4 

KING    RING'S   PYRE 

285 

A   KING'S  SEPULCHER 

2S0 

RING'S   DRAPA 

2S7 

TIIOR'S  BATTLE 

288 

VAL FADER    AND    SAGA 

200 

FORSETE 

293 

GRASPETII   THE   GOLD    STRINGS 

204 

VALKYRIES     CONDUCTING     HEROES 

TO    VALHALLA  20,-, 

HIS  CIRCLING  SHIELD  290 

THE    KING'S    ELECTION  207 

SCANDINAVIAN   TING   PLACE  299 

SWORD  AND   CROWN  301 

THE  SINKING  SUN  302 
FRITIIIOF   AT   HIS    FATHER'S 

GRAVE  303 
FRAMNAS. 


THE   FJORD   OF  SOGNE  304 

TnORSTEN'S    GRAVE  307 

THE    ESSEPJORD  300 

FRITHIOF   SLUMBERS  312 

SCANDINAVIAN    RUNE-STONE  313 

DEEP-PONDERED   WORDS  314 

THE    RECONCILIATION  315 

MOUNDS   OP   THE    KINGS  317 

DEATH  OP   BALDER  318 

THE   NEW   TEMPLE  310 

THEIR   OCEAN   GRAVE  320 

FREY    SLAIN    BY    SURTUR  323 

RAGNAROK  325 

PUNISHMENT    OP    LORE  327 

THE    PLAIN   OF    IDA  329 

THE    SKALD  330 

THE  NORNS  331 
CHRIST  WITH  MARY  AND  MAKTI1Y  333 
MARRIAGE   OF  FRITIIIOF   A     D 

INGEBORG  336 

HARP    AND    RUNES  337 

LAERDALSOREN  33S 

TEGNER'S   MEDALLION  339 

SERPENT  343 

THE  MIDDAY  MOON  344 

INDEX-HEADING  34', 

TEGNER'S   PORTRAIT  340 

FOOT-NOTE   HEADPIECE  347 

PYRE  340 

THE    NINE    WORLDS  350 

HEAD-PIECE   OF   CI  TS  351 

BRAGE  AND   IDUNA  354 

WANDERING    P.ARD  355 

330 


353 


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BRAGE  AND  IDUNA. 


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jfuttex  uf  ^nttgii. 


Frithiof  Plays  Chess 

Frithiof  s  Happiness 

[ngeborg's  Lamentation 

Frithiof  with  Angantyr 

Balder's  Pyre 

Frithiof  Goes  into  Exile 

The  Viking  Cole 

Frithiof  Conies  to  King  Ring 

The  Ice  Ride 

King  Ring's  Death 

Ring's  Drapa 

Frithiof  at  his  Father's  Grave 


101 

114 
151 

183 
210 
220 
230 
.  2->2 
261 
283 
291 
311 


355 


■■■■•  (v;C  iM, t**  «y 


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far 


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■■ 


'.     .'  ''.''  '. 


